tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-76816466356500763902018-03-06T00:19:24.917+00:00Ann Haines bookblog...........Welcome to my world!In the darkest corners of your mind ideas still grow. It's in this area that I like to pluck my ideas from, I'm glad to now be writing them down and sharing them with you guys!!Ann Haineshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00928746689442268475noreply@blogger.comBlogger44125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7681646635650076390.post-64801487846504492942012-08-04T11:26:00.000+01:002012-08-05T01:09:06.797+01:00Blog Tour Thanks<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Brunswick has been part of a fantastic blog tour these past weeks. It has received reviews, had character interviews and shared excerpts. I have also had the pleasure of posting a Guest Post and took part in interviews myself. The blog tour was hosted by Rachel Marks of YA Novel Reader; you should really follow this blog if you love everything reading and books. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><a href="http://www.yanovelreader.com/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">http://www.yanovelreader.com</span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It was a great experience to have with the brilliant bloggers that took part and I have to say a massive THANKS to you all. I’ve put the links to these blogs below, you really need to give them a look. They love what they do, they love to read and chat about books and they have made a great platform for them. If you love books then these guys are well worth the follow!!<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><a href="http://adreamwithindream.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">http://adreamwithindream.blogspot.com</span></a><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><a href="http://thecoverbybrittany.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">http://thecoverbybrittany.blogspot.com</span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><a href="http://charissabooks.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">http://charissabooks.blogspot.com</span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><a href="http://xxdaydreamer21xx.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">http://xxdaydreamer21xx.blogspot.com</span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">&nbsp;</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">&nbsp;<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><a href="http://paranormalbookfan.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">http://paranormalbookfan.blogspot.com</span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><a href="http://ahandfulofconfetti.wordpress.com/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">http://ahandfulofconfetti.wordpress.com</span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><a href="http://www.house-of-books.com/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">http://www.house-of-books.com</span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><a href="http://teadaydreamsandfairytales.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">http://teadaydreamsandfairytales.com</span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><a href="http://thebooktomyheart.blogspot.co.uk/" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">http://thebooktomyheart.blogspot.co.uk</span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Massive thanks again guys!!<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Happy Blogging<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Ann<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">xx<o:p></o:p></span></div></div>Ann Haineshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00928746689442268475noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7681646635650076390.post-2731042406529238042012-08-03T22:11:00.000+01:002012-08-03T22:11:53.057+01:00Guest Posts<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif';"></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif';">I have recently taken part in some guest posts on other blogs and I have to say I really enjoyed it. I would love to take part in more, so if you are interested in having me as a guest on your page please let me know. Here is a link to my blog so that you can see a little more about me </span><a href="http://www.annhaines.blogspot.co.uk/"><span style="font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif';"><span style="color: blue;">www.annhaines.blogspot.co.uk</span></span></a><span style="font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif';"> <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif';">You can also read the policies that are in place for posts and reviews. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif';">I would also be open to interviews, giveaways and blog tours.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif';">I am now opening my blog to Guest Posts as well. If you would like to be involved then please email </span><a href="mailto:annsreviews@hotmail.co.uk"><span style="font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif';"><span style="color: blue;">annsreviews@hotmail.co.uk</span></span></a><span style="font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif';"> and submit your request. Please visit my blog first to read the policies that are in place for Guest Posts. </span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif';">Happy Blogging</span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif';">Ann</span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif';">xx</span></div>Ann Haineshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00928746689442268475noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7681646635650076390.post-42901293065754704502012-07-23T15:32:00.001+01:002012-08-05T01:08:28.466+01:00Brunswick's Blog Tour<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Brunswick is now taking part in a great blog tour. Hosted by Rachel Marks of Young Adult Novel Reader, the following blogs will be taking part and below is the list of what they are posting and when they are posting it. </span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">I particularly liked doing the character interview, which was so much fun. Having to really act like I was Jonathan and answer the questions was very surreal!!</span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">I loved writing the guest post too, it was nice to give the world of Brunswick a little more depth and beginning. I enjoyed sharing the start with everyone, so I hope that you check it out and enjoy it too. </span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"></span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"></span></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br /><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">23/07/2012<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span><a href="http://adreamwithindream.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">http://adreamwithindream.blogspot.com</span></span></a><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;">&nbsp;&nbsp; </span>Review</span></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">24/07/2012<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span><a href="http://thecoverbybrittany.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">http://thecoverbybrittany.blogspot.com</span></span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">&nbsp;<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;&nbsp;</span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;">&nbsp;</span>Review</span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">25/07/2012<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span><a href="http://charissabooks.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">http://charissabooks.blogspot.com</span></span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">&nbsp;<span style="mso-tab-count: 2;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</span>Review</span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">26/07/2012<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span><a href="http://xxdaydreamer21xx.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">http://xxdaydreamer21xx.blogspot.com</span></span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">&nbsp;<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</span>Character Interview </span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">30/07/2012<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span><a href="http://paranormalbookfan.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">http://paranormalbookfan.blogspot.com</span></span></a><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">&nbsp;<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;">&nbsp;&nbsp;</span>Guest Post/Excerpt<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;">&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">31/07/2012<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span><a href="http://ahandfulofconfetti.wordpress.com/" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">http://ahandfulofconfetti.wordpress.com</span></span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">&nbsp;<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;">&nbsp;</span>Review</span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">01/08/2012<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span><a href="http://www.house-of-books.com/" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">http://www.house-of-books.com</span></span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">&nbsp;<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</span>Author Interview</span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">02/08/2012<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span><a href="http://teadaydreamsandfairytales.com/" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">http://teadaydreamsandfairytales.com</span></span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">&nbsp;<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</span>Teaser</span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">03/08/2012<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span><a href="http://thebooktomyheart.blogspot.co.uk/" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">http://thebooktomyheart.blogspot.co.uk</span></span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">&nbsp;<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</span>Author Interview</span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">I can’t thank the bloggers enough for taking part in this tour, they have been great. A big thanks to Rachel, for organising it all. Their blog tours are always fantastic so keep your eyes open for them, or if you follow the blog they will keep you posted themselves!!</span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">I hope that you take a look at these blogs, whether for my blog tour or in general, they are all worth the follow. For those of you that will check out my tour, I hope you enjoy it. I certainly enjoyed being part of it!!</span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Ann</span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">xx</span></div>Ann Haineshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00928746689442268475noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7681646635650076390.post-25657234047501778592012-07-06T20:37:00.001+01:002012-07-06T20:48:26.217+01:00Words were spoken ....... Mary's here<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-eYbXLqOOo5g/T5aQWZsD6_I/AAAAAAAAAE8/6dUrjXAprOg/s1600/hall3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" sca="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-eYbXLqOOo5g/T5aQWZsD6_I/AAAAAAAAAE8/6dUrjXAprOg/s200/hall3.jpg" width="141" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Mary is out now and available for purchase. Please find the links below.</span><br /><br /><a href="http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/175551" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Smashwords</span></a><br /><br /><a href="http://amzn.com/B008HYYC7I" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Amazon US</span></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B008HYYC7I" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Amazon UK</span></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/15721357-mary" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Goodreads Book Page</span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A huge thankyou to the bloggers and readers&nbsp;that took part in the ARC reviews for 'Mary', I was very lucky to have such great&nbsp;readers join in. Here are the links to their blogs, have a look at their sites for some great reads and reviews. </span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br /><a href="http://breatheinbooks.blogspot.com/2012/07/review-mary.html" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Breatheinbooks blog</span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">&nbsp;</span><br /><br /><a href="http://ylogs.com/archives/review-mary" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">TheYLogs blog</span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">&nbsp;</span><br /><br /><a href="http://cellardoorians.com/a-conversational-review-of-mary-by-ann-haines/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Cellardoorians blog</span></a><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Happy Reading</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Ann</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">xx</span>Ann Haineshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00928746689442268475noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7681646635650076390.post-37737808975163527012012-07-04T23:42:00.000+01:002012-07-04T23:47:32.043+01:00New Novella<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Only one day to go and Mary will be released on Amazon and Smashwords. Check out the book page on&nbsp;</span><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/15721357-mary" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Goodreads</span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> to hear what the ARC reviewers thoughts were. </span><br />﻿ ﻿ <br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="200" sca="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-eYbXLqOOo5g/T5aQWZsD6_I/AAAAAAAAAE8/6dUrjXAprOg/s200/hall3.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="141" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Mary is released on Friday 6th July</span></td></tr></tbody></table>﻿ <br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Thanks so much to those who took part in the ARC reviews. Their Blog links&nbsp;will be posted on here soon so please look out for them.</span><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Happy Reading</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Ann</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">xx</span>Ann Haineshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00928746689442268475noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7681646635650076390.post-40171615421522932122012-06-29T21:33:00.000+01:002012-07-05T19:01:13.188+01:00Diary of a Freak!!<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I love writing! Always have and, I hope, always will. I was writing all sorts of things from a young age and, during my early teens, started to read as much as I could too. All Kinds of genres filled my shelves and all with different, and yet somehow similar, protagonists. There are many books that have troubled, bullied, grieving or outsider main characters. There are few with seemingly normal characters that just happen to be a little special or simply have something special happen to them. That isn’t a criticism, as I enjoy all of those types of characters, it’s merely an observation. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">When I started writing my first novel <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">‘Brunswick’</i> I wanted to make my main character a “normal” kid, no extra troubles than usual. Of course he was based on my son so that was easy enough!! I wanted to do this because I thought it was important to point out that you don’t have to be troubled to have it tough. Not all teenagers are bullied, grieving or outsiders, but that doesn’t mean that growing up for them isn’t hard. There are many things that happen as we grow up that are tough to deal with, growing up is, after all, change and change is hard. When someone says “boy you think you have it tough, you should be in my shoes”, I always wonder why? Why do they have to be in your shoes to know how it feels to have a hard time or to face a challenge? Surely it isn’t a competition to see who has the toughest life, and we should all have the power and reasoning to know that everyone has the right to a good moan. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Then&nbsp;there's my second novel <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">‘Mary’</i> and the protagonist is totally different. She has a troubled past and all sorts of grey clouds hanging over her. Again though, I wanted to take that in to a different direction. Most of the characters that I have read that sit anywhere close to Mary Pendleton become hard and unyielding to others. They become standoffish and just generally tough nuts to crack. It doesn’t always happen that way though, sometimes people that have been through a tragedy and left with, what seems like nothing, become more vulnerable and almost desperate for as much as they can get. That is what I wanted Mary to be, yes she is a troubled teen who'd do anything to block her past out, but it’s how she does this that's different and&nbsp;interesting. She welcomes friends willingly because she's desperate for them, love from a boy is grabbed at through loneliness. The thing is, sometimes things happen and they don’t always make us harder and stronger. Sometimes they actually make us weaker but more determined, and that’s ok. Or at least I think it is anyway. After all a lot of strength comes from determination in the end!!</span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I have to admit that going in the opposite direction all the time is a bit of a thing with me, I worry that it may make me seem a little pretentious and that I’m being different for the sake of it. Really though it’s just that I like to see things from the other less looked at perspective, maybe it’s because I’m a little stubborn too!!</span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So what’s normal anyway? I think I’m quite freaky at times and probably stick out like a sore thumb, whereas in reality I am probably just a boring, slightly frumpy mummy type. The thing to remember is that we are looked upon by so many perspectives in the world we have all, at some point, been normal and sometimes even freaks and everything in between. So I just do what I do and try to do it well, I embrace my normality as much as I embrace my inner freak!! Maybe we all should?</span></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span>Ann Haineshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00928746689442268475noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7681646635650076390.post-15593711460283984082012-06-21T19:54:00.001+01:002012-06-21T19:54:24.949+01:00Review of Angel Evolution by David Estes<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-LF_XRNG90vM/T6EpMPJ6nfI/AAAAAAAAAFE/-WkW6EUbQKM/s1600/David.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" rca="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-LF_XRNG90vM/T6EpMPJ6nfI/AAAAAAAAAFE/-WkW6EUbQKM/s200/David.jpg" width="128" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I love books like this so I never really worried that I wouldn’t enjoy Angel Evolution. And I was right, I really liked it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>David Estes has done a great job at creating a world behind the scenes of the Human one. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We follow Taylor, a girl who has just started University and is happy marching to the beat of her own drum. Upon meeting Gabriel, however, everything changes. She is introduced to a world of Angels and Demons and finds out more about herself than even she knew. I enjoyed the characters and the conflict they all faced once they were deeper in to one another’s lives. Especially Taylor’s, she fights so hard not to have feelings for Gabriel and stray from her independent path, something I think that a lot of people could relate to. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I also liked how the story unfolded. The reasons behind the Angels and Demons and where they started. It was nothing too complicated and over thought so it came across as more believable. I would highly recommend this book; I thought it was a great read. I am very much looking forward to reading the next instalment of the trilogy Demon Evolution. </span></div><div align="center"><a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B006140LEO" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Amazon UK</span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">&nbsp;</span><a href="http://amzn.com/B006140LEO" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Amazon US</span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">&nbsp;</span><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12974693-angel-evolution" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Goodreads</span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">&nbsp;</span><a href="http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/95245" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Smashwords</span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">﻿</span></div>Ann Haineshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00928746689442268475noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7681646635650076390.post-40873405820993373332012-06-19T15:53:00.001+01:002012-06-20T10:31:00.989+01:00ARC's now up for grabs<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">As most of you know I am currently getting ready to release my second book ‘Mary’. It is a Paranormal YA novella that follows a young girl, Mary, and her family as they move to greener pastures. As she begins to start over from a shaky past things start to disturb her present. </span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">I am looking for people to read and review the book ready for its release date of 6<sup>th</sup> July 2012. I would appreciate anyone who could review the work and be ready to post it on their blog, website, Amazon, Smashwords or Goodreads or even all of the above.</span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">If you are interested then please email </span><a href="mailto:annsreviews@hotmail.co.uk"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">annsreviews@hotmail.co.uk</span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> and I can send you an e-copy for review. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><u><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Blurb: </span></span></u></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-eYbXLqOOo5g/T5aQWZsD6_I/AAAAAAAAAE8/6dUrjXAprOg/s1600/hall3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" rca="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-eYbXLqOOo5g/T5aQWZsD6_I/AAAAAAAAAE8/6dUrjXAprOg/s200/hall3.jpg" width="141" /></a></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">When Mary leaves her home in London she does it in silence.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Moving to Bell House seems like the perfect fresh start for the Pendleton family, even if Mary isn't quite on board. But when things start to fall in to place, she finds that life in the village of Eires Green is better than she'd hoped. Her new friends are a breath of fresh air and Zach is the most gorgeous and charming boy she has ever met. </span></span></i></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">When she finds old photographs in her attic she is captivated by the age and history of Bell House and a strange feeling of familiarity sets in. She feels the same way about her kooky friend Peggy who seems drawn to Mary's Grandmother and far from happy about her feelings for Zach. But soon Mary is faced with the fact that Bell House has an even more dark and tragic past than her own. </span></span></i></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Now Mary Pendleton is about to find out that running from your past is not an easy thing. Even if the past you're running from doesn't belong to you.</span></i><span style="font-size: 12pt;"></span></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Many thanks in advance to any of you who choose to take part. Thanks for the support.</span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Happy Reading</span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Ann</span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">xx</span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>Ann Haineshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00928746689442268475noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7681646635650076390.post-37780265563970050622012-06-19T15:12:00.002+01:002012-06-19T15:20:28.890+01:00Kindle Select... to enroll or not to enroll?<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Self-publishing brings a lot of freedom to authors and&nbsp;those who choose the Indie path will also tell you that it brings an incredible amount of work. We have painstakingly written the book of our dreams and then, most likely, paid for an editor and cover designer and even a book formatter. Then we want the book published and, of course, to have an audience. To be able to achieve that we need to promote and market ourselves and our book as far and wide as possible. Luckily there is so much information out there from other authors&nbsp;to&nbsp;help the newbies of the Indie world, like me,&nbsp;so it is a very supportive community to be part of. However even with all that information it is easy to make mistakes. Even if you have more savvy that Captain Jack Sparrow, you will mess up and sometimes that's not a bad thing. We learn as we go and mistakes are a much needed kick in the rear at times. </span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Well, there have been a few mistakes that I have made and even blogged about, most of them come from the marketing side of things. For those that have read other posts on here, you may have seen my excitement at&nbsp;</span><a href="http://amzn.com/B007FZVOLC" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Brunswick</span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> being released from the Kindle Select program, it meant that my book was able to join other platforms and I was looking forward to it. And, with Kindle Select coming under such scrutiny lately I thought I would give my experience and opinion of it. </span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It's true that I was glad when Brunswick was free from the program, this was not because of Kindle Select being terrible, it was because I wanted to get my book on other platforms. When your book is enrolled in the program it is there for 90 days and it is subject to the fact that you cannot publish your book on other platforms. When in the program you get 5 free promotional days in which you can offer your book at no charge. It is also available for the kindle Prime members to borrow and Amazon give a percentage of that fund to you for every copy borrowed. If you enrol your book you also have to have the price set at $2.99 or more. So there are a few of the facts that I read before I published and enrolled my book. As for the experience I had personally, it wasn't great and I'm very 50/50 about it. </span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I found being in the program very limiting. Of course it may not be that way for everyone, if all formats are through Amazon and you have done a lot of marketing already then your book may have more success in the program than mine. I enrolled Brunswick as soon as I published it and I think that was a big mistake for me. As and unknown author with an unknown book, it wasn't as if people were looking out for it. The free marketing days that I took advantage of were great and I am sure that they helped my book no end, however, I think it would have done better if it were not a 'brand new' book with no reviews and people were a bit more aware of it. I guess it sounds like a vicious circle, you need to market to get popularity and the Kindle select program is supposed to help market your book. But if people aren't looking out for it and have never heard of it there is less chance of them downloading it.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Like I said I have read many different views on this program, some of which had a better experience than mine and some of which were worse. I remain 50/50 about it. I don't think that&nbsp;I will enrol again but I do wonder if it would have been different if I enrolled the book now instead of then? Now that Brunswick is a little more known, would it have found more success with the program. I would say to anyone looking at joining the program to be careful and to think&nbsp;about what&nbsp;you are expecting from it. If your book is already doing well then why limit it? If your book is doing&nbsp;so so&nbsp;then you may find that the program gives it a boost. Research it fully and ask yourself if limiting its availability is what's best. </span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Also many authors do not agree with their work being free, if we work hard at something then why should we give it away. In many ways I agree but I also think that people look to these promotions as an opportunity to discover new authors. If you are an indie published, debut author you may find this worth while. When the book is not on promotion though&nbsp;it is up in the $2.99 section and some would not want to buy a relatively unknown authors work at a higher price, ebooks especially. I don't think that this hurt my sales too much but I'm sure it had an effect none the less. I have since lowered the price for the ebooks to try and attract more readers and it seems to have worked quite well.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">After putting Brunswick on to the Smashwords platform, it went straight in to the premium catalogue. That means that it is distributed to Apple and&nbsp;Kobo etc which is great for exposure.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I hope my experience and opinion has helped any of you that is looking in to the program. If you wish to comment on your own experience then please feel free, I'd love to hear from you. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Happy Reading</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Ann</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">xx</span>Ann Haineshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00928746689442268475noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7681646635650076390.post-6353350157305525932012-06-18T15:11:00.001+01:002012-06-18T15:11:47.030+01:00Uvi Poznansky Interview<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YJSUrt4jJqg/T7zJF4DSu3I/AAAAAAAAAJ4/G_TuxI3n3E8/s1600/a00481c3fb260a22d17b0a.L._V140299320_SX200_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" qba="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YJSUrt4jJqg/T7zJF4DSu3I/AAAAAAAAAJ4/G_TuxI3n3E8/s200/a00481c3fb260a22d17b0a.L._V140299320_SX200_.jpg" width="136" /></a></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Uvi earned her B. A. in Architecture and Town Planning from the Technion in Haifa, Israel, and practiced with an innovative Architectural firm. She received a Fellowship grant and a Teaching Assistantship from the Architecture department at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. There, she earned her M.A. in Architecture. Then, taking a sharp turn in her education, she earned her M.S. degree in Computer Science from the University of Michigan. During the years she spent in advancing her career<span style="font-family: &quot;Tahoma&quot;, &quot;sans-serif&quot;;"> </span>first as an architect, and later as a software engineer, software team leader, software manager and a software consultant (with an emphasis on user interface for medical instruments devices)<span style="font-family: &quot;Tahoma&quot;, &quot;sans-serif&quot;;"> </span>she wrote and painted constantly. Her versatile body of work can be seen online at&nbsp;<a href="http://www.uviart.com/" target="_blank">Uviart</a></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> . It includes poetry in English and Hebrew, short stories, bronze and ceramic sculptures, oil and watercolour paintings, charcoal, pen and pencil drawings, and mixed media. Uvi has published a poetry book and two children books, Jess and Wiggle and Now I Am Paper. Apart From Love is her debut novel.</span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br /></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Verdana&quot;, &quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Welcome Uvi, thanks for talking to us today and letting us have a little insight into you and your books.</span></b><span style="font-family: &quot;Verdana&quot;, &quot;sans-serif&quot;;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Verdana&quot;, &quot;sans-serif&quot;;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Verdana&quot;, &quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Q: Tell us about your recent novel, Apart From Love</span></b><span style="font-family: &quot;Verdana&quot;, &quot;sans-serif&quot;;"></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-wVCnJ6TLR58/T7zPBEihYLI/AAAAAAAAAKE/KAnH1T20pkU/s1600/Uvi.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" qba="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-wVCnJ6TLR58/T7zPBEihYLI/AAAAAAAAAKE/KAnH1T20pkU/s200/Uvi.jpg" width="133" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="color: #a64d79;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Verdana&quot;, &quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Baskerville; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">My novel, <span style="color: #b92200;">Apart from Love</span>, is an intimate peek into the life of a uniquely strange family: Natasha, the accomplished pianist, has been stricken with early-onset Alzheimer’s. Her ex-husband Lenny has never told their son Ben, who left home ten years ago, about her situation. At the same time Lenny has been carrying on a love affair with a young redhead, who bears a striking physical resemblance to his wife, but unlike her, is uneducated, direct and unrefined. This is how things stand at this moment, the moment of Ben’s return to his childhood home, and to a contentious relationship with his father.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>And so he finds himself standing here, on the threshold of where he grew up, feeling utterly awkward. He knocks, and a stranger opens the door. The first thing that comes to mind: what is she doing here? The second thing: she is young, much too young for his father. The third: her hair. Red.</span><span style="font-family: &quot;Verdana&quot;, &quot;sans-serif&quot;;"></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Verdana&quot;, &quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Q: What’s your genre and why did you choose it?</span></b><span style="font-family: &quot;Verdana&quot;, &quot;sans-serif&quot;;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="color: #a64d79;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Verdana&quot;, &quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Baskerville; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">I write contemporary fiction, because I like rooting the characters in the here and now in which I live, which allows the descriptions to become all the more detailed, real and vivid. I appreciate the notion that contemporary fiction builds on the shoulders of the fiction giants of previous eras.</span><span style="font-family: &quot;Verdana&quot;, &quot;sans-serif&quot;;"></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Verdana&quot;, &quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Q: What’s the biggest obstacle you faced with your writing journey?</span></b><span style="font-family: &quot;Verdana&quot;, &quot;sans-serif&quot;;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Verdana&quot;, &quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Baskerville; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="color: #a64d79;">The biggest obstacle is keeping up with my characters. Once they spring to life in my mind and start talking, I put down what they are dictating to me. Problem is that sometimes they become too fast. Just before I go to sleep, Ben might say something truly brilliant, and I promise myself to record it first thing in the morning--only to find myself grasping at the words when the time comes. So I find myself chasing my characters with a pen during my waking hours</span>.</span><span style="font-family: &quot;Verdana&quot;, &quot;sans-serif&quot;;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Verdana&quot;, &quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Q: Where do you get your ideas and inspiration from?</span></b><span style="font-family: &quot;Verdana&quot;, &quot;sans-serif&quot;;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="color: #a64d79;"><span style="color: #262626; font-family: &quot;Verdana&quot;, &quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Baskerville; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Over a year ago I wrote a short story about a twelve years old boy coming face to face, for the first time in his life, with the sad spectacle of death in the family. The title of the story is </span><span style="color: #b92200; font-family: &quot;Verdana&quot;, &quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Baskerville; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Only An Empty Dress</span><span style="color: #262626; font-family: &quot;Verdana&quot;, &quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Baskerville; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">. In it, Ben watches his father&nbsp; trying to revive his frail grandma, and later he attempts the same technique on the fish tilting upside down in his new aquarium.</span><span style="font-family: &quot;Verdana&quot;, &quot;sans-serif&quot;;"></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Verdana&quot;, &quot;sans-serif&quot;;"><span style="color: #a64d79;"></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="color: #a64d79;"><span style="color: #262626; font-family: &quot;Verdana&quot;, &quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Baskerville; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">&nbsp;“I cannot allow myself to weep. No, not now. So I wipe the corner of my eye. Now if you watch closely, right here, you can see that the tail is still crinkling. I gasp, and blow again. I blow and blow, and with a last-gasp effort I go on blowing until all is lost, until I don’t care anymore, I mean it, I don’t care but the tears, the tears come, they are starting to flow, and there is nothing, nothing more I can do—”</span><span style="font-family: &quot;Verdana&quot;, &quot;sans-serif&quot;;"></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Verdana&quot;, &quot;sans-serif&quot;;"><span style="color: #a64d79;"></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="color: #a64d79;"><span style="color: #262626; font-family: &quot;Verdana&quot;, &quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Baskerville; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">I set the story aside, thinking I was done with it. But the character of the boy, Ben, came back to me and started chatting, chatting, chatting in my head. It became the seed of my just-published novel </span><span style="color: #b92200; font-family: &quot;Verdana&quot;, &quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Baskerville; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Apart from Love</span><span style="color: #262626; font-family: &quot;Verdana&quot;, &quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Baskerville; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">.&nbsp;</span><span style="font-family: &quot;Verdana&quot;, &quot;sans-serif&quot;;"></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Verdana&quot;, &quot;sans-serif&quot;;"><span style="color: #a64d79;"></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="color: #a64d79;"><span style="color: #262626; font-family: &quot;Verdana&quot;, &quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Baskerville; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="color: #a64d79;">In writing it I asked myself, what if I ‘aged’ him by fifteen years? Where would he be then? Would he still admire his father as a hero, or will he be disillusioned at that point? What secrets would come to light in the life of this family? How would it feel for Ben to come back to his childhood home, and have his memories play tricks on him? What if I introduce a girl, Anita, a redhead who looks as beautiful as his mother used to be, but is extremely different from her in all other respects? And what if this girl were married to his father? What if the father were an author, attempting to capture the thoughts, the voices of Ben and Anita, in order to write his book?</span>&nbsp;</span><span style="font-family: &quot;Verdana&quot;, &quot;sans-serif&quot;;"></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Verdana&quot;, &quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Q: Who or what are your influences?</span></b><span style="font-family: &quot;Verdana&quot;, &quot;sans-serif&quot;;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="color: #a64d79;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Verdana&quot;, &quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Baskerville; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Surprisingly, I find poetry to be the greatest influence on my writing, perhaps because my father was a poet, and inspired me to compose poems from an early age, even before I learned to write. I appreciate the nuances, the overloading of words, and the musical rhythms used in the poetry of Edgar Allan Poe, the sonnets by Shakespeare, and the lyrical descriptions of Virginia Wolfe, to name but a few. </span><span style="font-family: &quot;Verdana&quot;, &quot;sans-serif&quot;;"></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Verdana&quot;, &quot;sans-serif&quot;;"><span style="color: #a64d79;"></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="color: #a64d79;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Verdana&quot;, &quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Baskerville; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Finally, here is the twist: I tend to paint scenes and characters with words, so my writing cannot be separated from my art. I am an artist/writer, registering how we express emotions through gestures, in my sculptures and my writing alike. Thus you can say that my writing is informed, to a great degree, by great artists, from michelangelo and Rodin.</span><span style="font-family: &quot;Verdana&quot;, &quot;sans-serif&quot;;"></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Verdana&quot;, &quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Q: Are you self-published, legacy or a combination?</span></b><span style="font-family: &quot;Verdana&quot;, &quot;sans-serif&quot;;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Verdana&quot;, &quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Baskerville; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="color: #a64d79;">I am self-published. My work is well edited and a fluent read. The cover design is based on my own oil painting, which you can find </span></span><span style="font-family: &quot;Verdana&quot;, &quot;sans-serif&quot;;"><a href="http://uviart.blogspot.com/2012/01/where-did-cover-image-come-from.html" target="_blank">here</a>&nbsp;.&nbsp;</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Verdana&quot;, &quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Q: What was the hardest part of your publishing journey?</span></b><span style="font-family: &quot;Verdana&quot;, &quot;sans-serif&quot;;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="color: #a64d79;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Verdana&quot;, &quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Baskerville; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Simply learning the ins-and-outs of the conversion process of the various ebook editions (to iPad, Nook and Kindle.) I have a masters degree in Computer Science, which helped me make sense of the process, so that my ebook editions have all the necessary functionality (cover image, table-of-content, and jumping from one chapter to the next.)</span><span style="font-family: &quot;Verdana&quot;, &quot;sans-serif&quot;;"></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Verdana&quot;, &quot;sans-serif&quot;;"><span style="color: #a64d79;"></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Verdana&quot;, &quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Q: How many books have you published so far?</span></b><span style="font-family: &quot;Verdana&quot;, &quot;sans-serif&quot;;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="color: #a64d79;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Verdana&quot;, &quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Baskerville; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">In addition to my novel, <span style="color: #b92200;">Apart from Love</span>, I have published three books: one is a poetry book, two are children books.</span><span style="font-family: &quot;Verdana&quot;, &quot;sans-serif&quot;;"></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Verdana&quot;, &quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Q: What’s the best bit of advice you received when starting out?</span></b><span style="font-family: &quot;Verdana&quot;, &quot;sans-serif&quot;;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="color: #a64d79;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Verdana&quot;, &quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Baskerville; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">A story must be read aloud in front of listeners. That's how you can tell you've captured their imagination.</span><span style="font-family: &quot;Verdana&quot;, &quot;sans-serif&quot;;"></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Verdana&quot;, &quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Q: What advice would you offer to the future Debut Authors out there?</span></b><span style="font-family: &quot;Verdana&quot;, &quot;sans-serif&quot;;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="color: #a64d79;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Verdana&quot;, &quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Baskerville; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Put everything you have, everything you have experienced and learned into your craft, and then, let your imagination take flight!</span><span style="font-family: &quot;Verdana&quot;, &quot;sans-serif&quot;;"></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Verdana&quot;, &quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Q: What’s next for you? Any projects in the pipeline for us to look forward to?</span></b><span style="font-family: &quot;Verdana&quot;, &quot;sans-serif&quot;;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Verdana&quot;, &quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Baskerville; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="color: #a64d79;">A number of ideas are percolating in my mind: One is completing the memoir I've started several years back. This is a difficult project because it makes you look in the mirror. Another is writing a new novel, which like this novel is also based on a character from one of my short stories. Yet a third idea is to create an art book which will feature my poems with beautifully photographed images of my bronze sculptures. You can read a verse of a such a poem, and see its associated piece of art right</span>&nbsp;<a href="http://uviart.blogspot.com/2012/05/in-darkness-take-leap.html" target="_blank">here</a></span><span style="font-family: &quot;Verdana&quot;, &quot;sans-serif&quot;;">. &nbsp;</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Verdana&quot;, &quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Q: Any favourite Author that you are a fan of and would recommend?</span></b><span style="font-family: &quot;Verdana&quot;, &quot;sans-serif&quot;;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="color: #a64d79;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Verdana&quot;, &quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Baskerville; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">I adore Oscar Wilde, in particular The Picture of Dorian Gray. Also, Playwrights have a great impact on my writing., for example The Price by Arthur Miller, because they teach me to listen to dialog, and identify emotions and motives through the speech patterns of the characters. I love American authors as well as authors from around the world, for example The Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain, Crime and Punishment by Dostoyevsky, and<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Catcher in the Rye by J. D. Salinger, for their expressive use of ‘stream of consciousness’. </span><span style="font-family: &quot;Verdana&quot;, &quot;sans-serif&quot;;"></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Verdana&quot;, &quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Q: Give us one of your favourite quotes…</span></b><span style="font-family: &quot;Verdana&quot;, &quot;sans-serif&quot;;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="color: #a64d79;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Verdana&quot;, &quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Baskerville; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">A dreamer is one who can only find his way by moonlight, and his punishment is that he sees the dawn before the rest of the world. </span><span style="font-family: &quot;Verdana&quot;, &quot;sans-serif&quot;;"></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="color: #a64d79;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Verdana&quot;, &quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Baskerville; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Oscar Wilde</span><span style="font-family: &quot;Verdana&quot;, &quot;sans-serif&quot;;"></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Verdana&quot;, &quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Q: And finally tell us something random about yourself to make us chuckle.</span></b><span style="font-family: &quot;Verdana&quot;, &quot;sans-serif&quot;;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Verdana&quot;, &quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Baskerville; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="color: #a64d79;">I throw everything I have into every little thing I do, be it baking, throwing a party, or crafting a novel. You can find the animation I created for one of my children books. It is on my author blog</span> <a href="http://uviart.blogspot.com/2012/04/journey-from-poem-to-animation-now-i-am.html" target="_blank">here</a>.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Thanks Uvi,&nbsp;it's been lovely having you here. All the best for you, Apart From Love&nbsp;and all your work.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Verdana&quot;, &quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Baskerville; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><strong>You can find Uvi and her novel Apart From Love, as well as her art and other work, with the following links.</strong></span></span></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Verdana&quot;, &quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Baskerville; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"></span></span><br /><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Apart-Love-Uvi-Poznansky/dp/0984993207" target="_blank">Amazon.co.uk</a>&nbsp;<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13498089-apart-from-love" target="_blank">Goodreads</a>&nbsp;<a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Uvi-Poznansky/e/B006WW4ZFG/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_pop_1" target="_blank">Author Page</a>&nbsp;<a href="http://uviart.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Blog</a>&nbsp;<a href="http://uviart.com/" target="_blank">Uvi's Art</a></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;"><br /><span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Apart-From-Love-Uvi-Poznansky/product-reviews/0984993207/" target="_blank">Rave Review</a>&nbsp;<a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Apart-From-Love-Uvi-Poznansky/product-reviews/0984993207/" target="_blank">Rave Review</a></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;"><br /></div>Ann Haineshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00928746689442268475noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7681646635650076390.post-7941418088207570292012-06-11T13:58:00.000+01:002012-06-11T13:58:30.448+01:00Michael Almich Interview<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Welcome Michael thanks for talking to us today and letting us have a little insight into you and your books.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Q: Tell us about The Fossegrimen Folly.</span></span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1mJ7swpimiw/T85gTQ2lakI/AAAAAAAAAKg/xTVwv3gbBUY/s1600/FossegrimenFolly.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" fba="true" height="200" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1mJ7swpimiw/T85gTQ2lakI/AAAAAAAAAKg/xTVwv3gbBUY/s200/FossegrimenFolly.jpg" width="133" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #a64d79;">It centres on eleven year old Shylock. He is an introverted boy that is sent to summer camp in Northern Minnesota. Beyond the cabins in the trees and new friendships, he discovers that Camp Lac Igam is different. Adventures and mythical creatures abound. This first instalment is an adventure that forces young Shy to learn to deal with bullies, believe in himself, and be courageous for his friends. When he discovers his special ability to see through fairy deceptions, he finds himself face to face with the mythical fossegrimen. The treasure hunt begins, but can they survive the consequences of what they find?</span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Q: What’s your genre and why did you choose it? </span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #a64d79;">I would qualify this book as both YA and Fantasy/Adventure. I have always liked the Fantasy genre, and this book contains many creatures and aspects of stories I used to tell my children.</span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Q: What’s the biggest obstacle you faced with your writing journey? </span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #a64d79;">This one is an easy question. My biggest obstacle is time… by far. I have a full-time job and three active kids. Need I say more?</span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Q: Where do you get your ideas and inspiration from? </span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #a64d79;">I draw on many stories that I have read. In general the ideas come mostly from my imagination, and from the stories that I would make up for my kids when they were younger. My wife inspires me to keep writing and fight through the difficult times.</span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Q: Who or what are your influences?</span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #a64d79;">In terms of authors, I enjoy and am inspired by Tolkien (of course), Robert Jordan, George R.R. Martin, Madeline L'Engle, J.K. Rowling, and many, many more. This series in particular was influenced by a book called War for the Oaks, and a series of children's books called The Spiderwick Chronicles.</span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Q: Are you self-published, legacy or a combination? </span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #a64d79;">I am self-published.</span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Q: What was the hardest part of your self-pub journey? </span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #a64d79;">Finding the time to write was the most difficult part of this experience. I also struggled with the editing process… specifically; I hurried the book out too quickly. </span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Q: What format are your books available in? </span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #a64d79;">All e-book formats.</span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Q: How many books have you published so far? </span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #a64d79;">This is my first.<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"></b></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Q: What things did you outsource, if any at all? </span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #a64d79;">I only outsourced the cover. It was not too expensive…. I had a very clear vision of what I wanted and DigitalDonna.com did a great job. </span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Q: What’s the best bit of advice you received when starting out? </span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #a64d79;">Edit, edit, edit… and then edit again. I wish I would have followed it.</span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Q: What advice would you offer to the future Debut Authors out there?</span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #a64d79;">I would advise them to allow more time than what they think they will need to get that first book out. Ensuring you are maximizing all of your self marketing tools prior to releasing the book is crucial. I feel like I am still catching up. Do the research ahead of time, and have a plan.</span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; tab-stops: 411.95pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Q: What’s next for you? Any projects in the pipeline for us to look forward to?<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;">&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; tab-stops: 411.95pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #a64d79;">I am in the process of writing book 2 of the Camp Lac Igam series and hope to have it out by early fall. Shy is heading back to camp for a second summer, but many things have changed and he and his friends will have increasingly more serious issues to deal with. </span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Q: Give us one of your favourite quotes……………….</span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #a64d79;">"'tis the world's plague, when madmen lead the blind" -King Lear- William Shakespeare </span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Q: And finally tell us something random about yourself to make us chuckle…………………………. </span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #a64d79;">I can recite the opening monologue of The A-Team, or Casey at the Bat, but I cannot remember a joke if my life depended on it!</span></span></span></div><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Thanks so much for joining us here Michael, it was great chatting to you!!</span><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">You can find Michael Almich and his book The Fossegrimen Folly by following these links:- </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://michaelalmich.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Blog</span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">&nbsp;</span><a href="http://twitter.com/Michael_Almich" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Twitter</span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">&nbsp;</span><a href="http://facebook.com/mikealmich" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Facebook</span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">&nbsp;</span><a href="http://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/MichaelAlmich" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Smashwords Profile</span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">&nbsp;</span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Michael-Almich/e/B007UJEOOM/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_1" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Amazon US</span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">&nbsp;</span><a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Fossegrimen-Folly-Camp-Igam-ebook/dp/B007UFOJ5K/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1337429196&amp;sr=8-1" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Amazon UK</span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">&nbsp;</span><a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-fossegrimen-folly-michael-almich/1110622105?ean=2940033169191" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Barnes &amp; Noble</span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">&nbsp;</span></div>Ann Haineshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00928746689442268475noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7681646635650076390.post-83564437663410416902012-06-01T19:38:00.001+01:002012-06-01T19:45:04.839+01:00Debbie Hope Interview<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bNV3AxkNH5k/T6hY6nkhC_I/AAAAAAAAAGM/Ju6WWJQ2gQo/s1600/debbie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" mea="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bNV3AxkNH5k/T6hY6nkhC_I/AAAAAAAAAGM/Ju6WWJQ2gQo/s200/debbie.jpg" width="151" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The comedian, Michael McIntyre, did (in my humble opinion a very funny) sketch on his June 2009 Comedy Road Show which I recently caught repeated on Sky taking the mickey out of the names of one of our local hospitals: ‘Hope Hospital’ in Salford, United Kingdom. There is a strong rivalry between the North and South of England and Southerners love to poke fun at the North, even the names of our hospitals. The name ‘Hope’ originally came from a medieval hall, Hope Hall. They have tried to rebrand it as Salford Royal and I guess that’s thanks to clever Southern wits like Michael McIntyre because I shook my fist at the TV screen, "No, no, Michael, you are so wrong. Hope is a great name for a hospital!" A lot of times in the tough North all you have is hope and you especially need hope if you are in hospital. But I thank Michael both for making me laugh and for helping me choose my pen name – it had to be Debbie Hope!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Hope hospital quite simply saved my life; 2005 a horse riding accident resulted in a, level 4 head injury, emergency surgery and coma, unable even to breathe for myself. The injury was so bad they automatically whipped my driving license away from me! I’m told that statistically I should have died but instead I recovered because of the wonderful care I received from the fantastic facilities and superior staff at Hope.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">As an avid reader one of the hardest things for me in the months immediately after the accident was being unable to focus due to double vision. Reading gave me an instant migraine, but I could touch-type and I’ve always wanted to write a novel so I sat down and got busy writing. I wrote Lunar Regeneration, my Young Adult, Fantasy Novel, in the six months it took me to recover and get back to work. I was soon so busy working took all my time and energy. In May 2009 I was made redundant, so I picked the book up again and tried unsuccessfully to sell it to agents and publishers. Then I got myself back in work and left Lunar Regeneration gathering dust.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">February 2012 and I was redundant again – oh the joys of the recession. But all change: the era of self-publishing was upon us. I no longer had to wait for someone else to decide to publish my work. I had also begun a part-time English degree with Liverpool Hope University. (Yes, Michael, Hope again, we love our Hope in the North - you Southerners have the mild weather and the booming economy, leave us Northerners; our Corrie, (Coronation Street Northern Soap opera) our meat pies, our Geordie Shore (Adult Northern Reality TV series) and our Hope). I’ve published my book and it’s available on Amazon.</span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Welcome Debbie Hope thanks for talking to us today and letting us have a little insight into you and your books.</span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Q: Tell us about Lunar Regeneration first book in the Immortal MacAbre Series. </span></span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4g7qW19TgaM/T6hY89bp6NI/AAAAAAAAAGU/Zp8xYNud0qg/s1600/lunar.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="200" mea="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4g7qW19TgaM/T6hY89bp6NI/AAAAAAAAAGU/Zp8xYNud0qg/s200/lunar.jpg" width="130" /></span></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #a64d79;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It took me a long time to come up with the right title. I was going to call my novel “Boy 2 Bone and Back Again” as he regenerates from a skeleton until someone pointed out the other meaning of Bone when referring to boys!</span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Q: What’s your genre and why did you choose it? </span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #a64d79;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">YA Fantasy : love reading that genre.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>I know some people say fantasy is rubbish. I cross the street to avoid them. You can pick holes in any book, if you want to, work of complete literary genius or not. If you read some of the original reviews on my all time favourite book; Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte the critics of the time hated it – they said it was disjointed and confused! I’m doing an English degree so I read a lot of classics for that. But in my free time I read what I love, Fantasy/Romance and also Crime/Thrillers. But I feel only people with real technical experience of Crime should write that genre and that is so not me – so I will always read crime and write fantasy.</span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Q: What’s the biggest obstacle you faced with your writing journey? </span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #a64d79;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I am trying get my books into book stores and can’t find a cost effective way to deal through their distributers and pay print/production costs and break even, never mind make a living! Which is why print on demand solutions like Amazon’s Createspace are fantastic.</span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Q: Where do you get your ideas and inspiration from? </span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #a64d79;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I was watching the Old Classic Movie, American Werewolf in London for the thousandth time and I suddenly thought what if I teenage boy could transform into something else. The idea was born and I had to sit down and write. I wanted to make the transitions, gritty and real and worked really hard on that. The idea was so good I had to do it justice with excellent writing.</span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Q: Who or what are your influences? </span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="color: #a64d79;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">As a child, I read everything I could get my hands on and we had a lot of books! So quite early on; Lewis Carroll, CS Lewis, Anna Sewell, Robert Louis Stevenson and of course Tolkien. Modern writers I like so many; Lee Childs, Eoin Colfer, Phillip Pullman,</span> <span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Stephanie Meyer, Kathy Reichs, J K Rowling, etc. I used to queue outside bookshops at midnight when a new Harry Potter was released. I have a first edition of the Philosopher’s Stone. All these books are popular for a good reason. They take the reader into another world and that’s what I love about books.</span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Q: Are you self-published, legacy or a combination? </span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #a64d79;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Self- published with Amazon Createspace</span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Q: What was the hardest part of your self-pub journey? </span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #a64d79;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Getting the stupid file to upload onto Createspace to go for a final check and printing. A combination of free help from Createspace and help from my website designer Dave at Motion Web Design solved that problem but not without tears and much swearing from me. Createspace do provide a detailed help service for £70 which I couldn’t afford but is probably well worth it.</span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Q: What format are your books available in?</span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #a64d79;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Paperback and ebook – from Amazon</span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Q: How many books have you published so far?</span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #a64d79;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This is my first book - I intend to write a complete series.</span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Q: What things did you outsource, if any at all?</span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #a64d79;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I had zero money to spend but I did pay for a Free Lance Editor, Anne Greenberg which was the best money, I couldn’t afford, I’ve ever spent. She did see plot flaws I was totally blind too – thanks Anne.</span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Q: What’s the best bit of advice you received when starting out? </span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #a64d79;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Get a website. Because money was tight. I went to a fixed price company Motion Web Design and the results are brilliant. www.immortalmacabre.co.uk</span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Q: What advice would you offer to the future Debut Authors out there? </span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #a64d79;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Finish the work, put it away for a few months, get it back out and ruthlessly edit it. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span>Then get an editor and if you can afford it a copy editor (An English teacher friend or fellow writer is fine just avoid those howlers) – agree the price in advance, state what you can afford and find someone who likes your work to work with you. Same for the website which if you want to write YA you do need a website.</span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Q: What’s next for you? Any projects in the pipeline for us to look forward to? </span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #a64d79;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I am already into the second book of the series so watch this space.</span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Q: Any favourite Author that you are a fan of and would recommend? </span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #a64d79;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Stephanie Meyer’s other books are great reading too – don’t just stick with the vampires. If you want to self-publish John Locke’s ‘How I sold…’ book is a must.</span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Q: Give us one of your favourite quotes…………</span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #a64d79;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Robert Louis Stevenson<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>“Don’t write merely to be understood. Write so that you cannot possibly be misunderstood.” </span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #a64d79;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So much harder than it sounds remember the character lives in your head and so you think everything is crystal clear on paper. Solution – always use an editor.</span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Q: And finally tell us something random about yourself to make us chuckle…………………………. </span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #a64d79;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I’m on Twitter and when I first joined I couldn’t understand why I was getting lots of random teenage girl foreign followers. Light dawned, they don’t know ‘Debbie’ is a female name and they think I am the teenage boy on the cover of my book!</span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Haha, hey whatever gets the following!!! </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Thanks so much for joining us here Debbie, it was lovely chatting to you.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><br /></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">You can find Debbie Hope and her book Lunar Regenaration with the links below.....</span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><br /></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13604422-lunar-regeneration" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Goodreads</span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">&nbsp;</span><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5818350.Debbie_Hope" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Goodreads Profile</span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">&nbsp;</span><a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B007L48ITI" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Amazon UK</span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">&nbsp;</span><a href="http://amzn.com/B007L48ITI" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Amazon US</span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">﻿</span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><br /></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><br /></div>Ann Haineshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00928746689442268475noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7681646635650076390.post-32747819909565833832012-05-31T10:43:00.000+01:002012-05-31T10:43:18.250+01:00Brunswick joins Smashwords!<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Today is the day when Brunswick joins the Smashwords platform. Now released from KDP Select, it is free to explore the book distribution world and grab some more readers!! </span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It has been given a nice new cover to celebrate and&nbsp;is also&nbsp;available at a lower price. These newbies&nbsp;will also be available on Amazon. </span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br /></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Hope you like the new cover............</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br /></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-chMzG5Te3BQ/T8c69_8OHtI/AAAAAAAAAKQ/BIdcxmk7cGM/s1600/Brunswick.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" rba="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-chMzG5Te3BQ/T8c69_8OHtI/AAAAAAAAAKQ/BIdcxmk7cGM/s320/Brunswick.jpg" width="226" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/annhaines" target="_blank">My Smashwords Author Profile</a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><a href="http://smashwords.com/b/167429" target="_blank">Book page to sample or purchase Brunswick</a></span></span></div>Ann Haineshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00928746689442268475noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7681646635650076390.post-3503280206550472142012-05-26T20:36:00.000+01:002012-05-26T20:51:21.624+01:00Review of The Weeping Empress by Sadie S Forsythe<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OEGxyd9tclc/T5EqF6t03tI/AAAAAAAAAEQ/lyu7-1sVAKU/s1600/Thw+Weeping+Empress.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" qba="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OEGxyd9tclc/T5EqF6t03tI/AAAAAAAAAEQ/lyu7-1sVAKU/s200/Thw+Weeping+Empress.jpg" width="133" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I have been fortunate to have been introduced to some strikingly good books recently. The Weeping Empress being the first of which I read. I have not looked at reading a book such as this since I was a lot younger and was reading a lot of graphic novels. I fear that, because of this, if I had been in a book shop I may have passed it by. A word of warning readers ………….. <strong>DO NOT PASS THIS BOOK BY!!</strong> It’s an astonishingly bitter and self-sacrificing read that has been written by Sadie S Forsythe with the most beautiful carnage you can describe. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Our heroine Chiyo is the main protagonist throughout and we stay with her on her journey of pure anger, destruction and self-discovery as she tries to fight her way through a new and harrowing life that she has been dragged kicking and screaming in to. Throughout the book you see a little more of the old her being repressed and the new warrior inside being released. She is haunted by her old life, but what really unleashes her rage when the book reaches its end is the sheer betrayal and usage on her. It begs the question that do we really know what is in our destiny and do we have a hand in it at all. On reflection, throughout the book, Chiyo's character kind of reminded me a little of Frankenstein’s monster, in the way that it became what it had been made to be. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It’s strange, but when I read a book the images that it conjures up in my mind are always live action, but when reading this I could only see it in anime. It was almost like watching Kill Bill in my head, where it switches from live action to anime and back again.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In all I would highly recommend this book, it’s a truly beautiful read. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><br /></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Grab your copy with these links</span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0072W1LJ8" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Amazon.co.uk</span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">﻿ </span><a href="http://amzn.com/B0072W1LJ8" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Amazon.com</span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">&nbsp;</span><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13390709-the-weeping-empress" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Goodreads</span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">&nbsp;</span><a href="http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/156219" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Smashwords</span></a></div>Ann Haineshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00928746689442268475noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7681646635650076390.post-71211767639874229222012-05-22T21:14:00.002+01:002012-05-22T21:21:46.297+01:00Free at last!!<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So to celebrate the fact that I only have a&nbsp;few days left until my novel Brunswick comes out of the KDP Select programme (you will understand my celebration more after my next post), I am utilising my last day of FREEBIE giving!!! </span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Yes I am celebrating the fact that my book will no longer be available ONLY on Amazon and will soon have its lovely self uploaded on to Smashwords as well. </span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So on Friday 25th May you will have 24hrs to download your free copy to read and enjoy!! </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Yet another massive thanks for your support of me and my work!!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Happy Reading </span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Ann</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">xx</span>Ann Haineshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00928746689442268475noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7681646635650076390.post-6567554289669475692012-05-22T20:10:00.000+01:002012-05-22T20:12:50.005+01:00Scott Clements Interview<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qvCeMRqkw_A/T6kQEaoz0YI/AAAAAAAAAG0/49U3qh4TtHk/s1600/ScottClements1Medium.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" dba="true" height="132" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qvCeMRqkw_A/T6kQEaoz0YI/AAAAAAAAAG0/49U3qh4TtHk/s200/ScottClements1Medium.JPG" width="200" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><br /><br /><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Welcome Scott Clements thanks for talking to us today and letting us have a little insight into you and your books.</span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Q: Tell us about Gasparilla’s Treasure………………</span></span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZZ0qJIQnEFg/T6kQGKzwMyI/AAAAAAAAAG8/6A4RGQXecGY/s1600/book_cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" dba="true" height="200" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZZ0qJIQnEFg/T6kQGKzwMyI/AAAAAAAAAG8/6A4RGQXecGY/s200/book_cover.jpg" width="133" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #a64d79;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">CLEMENTS: Gasparilla’s Treasure is an adventurous treasure hunt through historic St Augustine Florida .<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Our thirteen-year-old hero, Trip Montgomery, has to solve clues and sets out on the quest to find the treasure of famed pirate, Gasparilla.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Trip has no idea what’s in store for him!</span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Q: What’s your genre and why did you choose it?</span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #a64d79;">CLEMENTS: I wrote Gasparilla’s Treasure as a middle grade novel.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>I wanted to write something my ten year old son could really sink his teeth into; something that any kid from age eight to fourteen would not want to put down.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>And truth be told, I think my brain is stuck at age thirteen anyway, just ask my wife.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>I’ve been pleasantly surprised that many of my most satisfied readers are adults that just love the feeling of a “The Goonies” style book.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>I think they enjoy the fact that it’s transporting them back to their youth</span>.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Q: What’s the biggest obstacle you faced with your writing journey?</span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #a64d79;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">CLEMENTS: I think the biggest obstacles are the ones we put in front of ourselves.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>It’s way easier to say, “I don’t have time right now” than it is to sit down and write.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>It’s also easy to tell yourself that you’re not good enough, or that it’s too hard.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>You just have to put those thoughts out of your head and make it happen.</span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Q: Where do you get your ideas and inspiration from?</span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #a64d79;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">CLEMENTS: With Gasparilla’s Treasure, I started with the single sentence, “A Thirteen-year-old boy wants to find the treasure his family has been searching for for three generations.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>I went with the idea that everything in my book must serve that sentence.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Then the book just started pouring out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Now that I’ve finished, I see stories in everything around me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Now I just have to sort out which ones will actually be interesting.</span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Q: Who or what are your influences?</span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #a64d79;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">CLEMENTS:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>As a writer, I hate to admit it, but I think I am most influenced by movies.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>I work as a sound mixer in the movie and TV business, and my mind always plays out a book as a movie.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>When you read Gasparilla’s Treasure, you will quickly see some influences from “The Goonies”, “National Treasure”, “Indiana Jones”, etc... A great story is a great story, and I just want to tell great stories with great characters.</span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Q: Are you self-published, legacy or a combination?</span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #a64d79;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">CLEMENTS:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>I am self published, and knew I would be from the beginning.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>When I first started looking at writing a book, the prospect of finding an agent and then a publisher was so daunting.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>And if I did find one, I realized they would likely make me do most of the work anyway.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Then I discovered self-publishing, and knew it was a fit for me.</span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Q: What was the hardest part of your self-pub / publishing journey?</span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #a64d79;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">CLEMENTS:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>I think most indie authors would answer this question with publicity and getting the book into the hands of readers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>I did the free Kindle promotion and got 3200 downloads, which resulted in zero reviews so far.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>I know when people read Gasparilla’s Treasure, they will love it, but it’s getting them to read it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Publishers have huge advertising budgets and built in readers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Us indie authors rely on readers, reviews, and word of mouth to get our books out there.</span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Q: What format are your books available in?</span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #a64d79;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">CLEMENTS:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>As I mentioned, I did the Kindle free promo which requires an author to be ebook exclusive to Kindle for three months, so Gasparilla’s Treasure is currently available for Kindle and in paperback.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>It was briefly available for the Nook and through Smashwords, and will relaunch on those sites in June.</span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Q: How many books have you published so far?</span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #a64d79;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">CLEMENTS:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Gasparilla’s Treasure was my first book... hopefully of many.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span>I hope to find readers that are hungry for my books, so I want to have more out there for them to read, and I’m working on it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Many of the people who have read Gasparilla’s Treasure are screaming for a sequel.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>When you read it, you’ll know why.</span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Q: What things did you outsource, if any at all?</span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #a64d79;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">CLEMENTS:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>I have no artistic talent, so I found an amazing artist to do my cover.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>I think everyone will agree that she does amazing work.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Other than that, I have done everything myself, and it’s all gone pretty smoothly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Sure there have been a few bumps in the road, but that is the journey of self-publishing.</span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Q: What’s the best bit of advice you received when starting out?</span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #a64d79;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">CLEMENTS:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>The best advice I got was when I was writing scripts.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>I handed a script to a screen-writer friend of mine, and after reading it, he advised me to throw it away and read the books “Screenplay”, and “Writing Screenplays That Sell”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>I took his advice and started with a new understanding of structure, story, and characters.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>I think that advice has helped me write fast moving, fun, character driven stories.</span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Q: What advice would you offer to the future Debut Authors out there?</span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #a64d79;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">CLEMENTS:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Get ready for the bad with the good.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Not everyone is going to like your work, and when someone has something bad to say about your work, it feels like they are stomping on your soul.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;&nbsp; </span>But then a reader tells you that they couldn’t sleep until they finished the book, or that your book really connected with them and you forget all about the bad things.</span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Q: What’s next for you? Any projects in the pipeline for us to look forward to?</span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #a64d79;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">CLEMENTS:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>I’m just finishing the final chapters of my next book.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>It’s about Chet Parker, a shy, animal loving kid without many friends.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>His dog leads him to the house of the most popular girl in school, and her cat, Mr. Fluffy Pants has gone missing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Mr. Fluffy Pants was wearing the mom’s diamond tennis bracelet and Chet decides to help her find Mr. Fluffy Pants, Ace Ventura style.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>It’s a fun detective story.</span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Q: Any favourite Author that you are a fan of and would recommend?</span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #a64d79;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">CLEMENTS:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>If you haven’t had a chance to read Orson Scott Card, I think you’re missing out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>A friend of mine turned me on to “Enders Game” a few years back, and I have since read almost all of Card’s work.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>His latest, “Pathfinder” is a great read.</span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Q: Give us one of your favourite quotes……………….</span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #a64d79;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">CLEMENTS:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>When my son tells me he can’t do something, I always tell him, “Can’t is just can with a t at the end.” Mostly, he just thinks his dad is crazy, but I think it will sink in some day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>I’ve also noticed he avoids saying “can’t” now, and finds a different way to tell me he can’t do something.</span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Q: And finally tell us something random about yourself to make us chuckle……………………</span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/" name="GoBack"></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">…….</span></span></b></div><span style="color: black; font-family: &quot;Lucida Grande&quot;, &quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;ヒラギノ角ゴ Pro W3&quot;; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">CLEMENTS:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>I have consistently been able to beat my friends on the golf course.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Not with my score, but in the “number of balls lost” contest.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>In that contest, there is no one better.</span></span><br /><br /><br /><span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana;">Thanks so much for joining us on the blog Scott, it's been a real pleasure having you!!</span><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">You can find Gasparilla's Treasure by following these links</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13508360-gasparilla-s-treasure" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Goodreads</span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">&nbsp;</span><a href="http://amzn.com/B007EZFAHM" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Amazon.com</span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">&nbsp;</span><a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1475028539" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Amazon.co.uk</span></a>&nbsp;</div>Ann Haineshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00928746689442268475noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7681646635650076390.post-17555401858680257232012-05-21T16:10:00.001+01:002012-05-21T16:32:54.616+01:00Major Faux Pas!!!!<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">OK, I am aware that mistakes happen and that we learn from them and that I'm only human. Some mistakes are little and some are big. So here is my big one.............. ARCS, Networking and publicising!!!</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Dear oh dear, I know that being new to it all I am pretty much flying by the seat of my pants and learning as I go, but I so wish I had known and researched all that before releasing Brunswick. I mean I am a totally unknown writer and I release my first book with absolutely NO platform what-so-ever!!! That was just silly, I think my common sense was having a break that day!!</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Brunswick sat there with no momentum at all. No one was looking out for it and no one had heard of it (save for a few friends and family members). Even now as I am getting ready to release my second novel, Brunswick is only just starting to get the coverage and reviews that should of been there backing it up from the start. What a terrible Mummy I have been to my baby!!! The reviews and blog tours etc that Brunswick is receiving and getting involved in now is because of the networking and publicising that I have done. But it was AFTER THE FACT!!!!! When Brunswick was finally released it sat on the shelf alone. It had no reviews, no mentions, no cover reveals or even discussions about the fact that it was a debut novel from a debut writer. NOTHING. Nobody had read it and so nobody was able to say "check out this book" and nobody knew who I was so nobody said "hey check out this debut writer".</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Even now that I have put myself in the thick of it with other authors, readers, bloggers, reviewers, publishers and agents, Ann Haines and her book Brunswick&nbsp;are only just starting to poodle along the literary road. It is yet to gain any real momentum and (fingers crossed) take off on its own. I know that this is a long journey and if you are lucky enough to be a successful writer that it can take a huge amount of time. Still I can't help but think that it would have had more chance and gained more momentum if I had actually put it out there and asked for exposure first. </span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Well, lesson learned. My second book 'Mary' was going to get released at around the end of May but I have now pushed the release date back to&nbsp;Friday 6th&nbsp;July. I will be offering ARCs to bloggers and other authors that would like to read and review it&nbsp;for me so that, this time, the book will not be up there alone. It will have the back up from the reviews and hopefully it will have its name out there&nbsp;in a few&nbsp;discussions. I am hoping that by doing this I am giving it a better chance than I did before. Of course I can't guarantee that this is right, but from what&nbsp;I have learned from&nbsp;my previous&nbsp;mistake and from others advice as well, I am willing to give it a try. It seems that patience and perseverance is the key to most of what I'd like to achieve, so lets give that a go aye? This time though&nbsp;I intend to be a little more savvy!!</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Happy Blogging</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Ann</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">xx</span>Ann Haineshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00928746689442268475noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7681646635650076390.post-75046309244889097522012-05-19T00:28:00.001+01:002012-05-21T17:30:14.195+01:00Emmalee Aple Interview<span style="font-family: Verdana;"></span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TCqNHa0Aiew/T6hQgvbntuI/AAAAAAAAAF4/zuz4QKzfXv0/s1600/emm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="125" mea="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TCqNHa0Aiew/T6hQgvbntuI/AAAAAAAAAF4/zuz4QKzfXv0/s200/emm.jpg" width="200" /></a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Emmalee Aple was born and raised in Wisconsin, but always dreamed of life on the coast. Now, grown with a handsome computer geeky husband and two beautiful blonde monsters of her own, she uses what spare time she can manage to squeeze out of her day, writing, sewing and crafting. Emmalee’s debut novel, Neophyte, was released in February 2012. She is excited to share the beginning of this story with you, and is currently busy working on Rogue, the second book in this series. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Emmalee lives off of carmel iced coffee and sprees. She strongly believes that a childs imagination is the most important part of growing up, and that the cleaning elves are avoiding her messy house. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">She loves a good book that sucks you in and doesnt let go until the pages run out. And can not get enough of the show Glee. (Although she will admit she DVRs Bones, Castle, Pretty Little Liars, Vampire Diaries and Fringe).</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Growing up her favorite movie was Annie and she knows all the lyrics to almost every disney song!&nbsp; </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In the summer you can find her outside in her hammock, or out on a boat in the local lakes. Her current favorite books are The Hunger Games, the Demonblood series and The Lorax.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Welcome Emmalee Aple thanks for talking to us today and letting us have a little insight into you and your books.</span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Q: Tell us about Neophyte ……………… </span></span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Verdana; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fH9te-mW-uM/T6hQkKit7cI/AAAAAAAAAGA/uk5Zb33QnDQ/s1600/neo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" mea="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fH9te-mW-uM/T6hQkKit7cI/AAAAAAAAAGA/uk5Zb33QnDQ/s200/neo.jpg" width="150" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #a64d79;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A: Neophyte is the first book in the series. It takes you through part of Addisyn White’s transformation from human to angel.&nbsp; Where she learns that her Link [group of angels she is connect to, kind of like her angel family] is keeping secrets from her, secrets about her, about being an angel, and about the dangers that surround them.&nbsp; Because she is a Neophyte, she isn’t allowed to do much, she is untrained, inexperienced and can still die a human death. But that doesn’t stop her from fighting for what she believes in.&nbsp; There is some romance, some fighting and a lot of tension. It starts with a kidnapping and ends with a life changing decision. </span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Q: What’s your genre and why did you choose it?</span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #a64d79;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A: My genre is Young Adult fiction, in the sub category of fantasy or paranormal. I chose this genre because it’s what I read the most.</span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Q: What’s the biggest obstacle you faced with your writing journey?</span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="color: #a64d79;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A: The biggest obstacle I faced, honestly, was finding the time to get my ideas on paper. With a hubby and two kids, there isn’t much time in the day and the time there is, I should be using for sleeping. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Q: Where do you get your ideas and inspiration from?</span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #a64d79;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A: My ideas come mostly from my wild imagination. Some things that happen in the book happened in real life. I don’t want to give too much away, but a certain date scene was actually from back when hubs and I were dating. </span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Q: Who or what are your influences?</span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #a64d79;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A: My influences come from all over.&nbsp; I can’t really pinpoint an exact place or person, I like to draw from everything.</span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Q: Are you self-published, legacy or a combination?</span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #a64d79;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A: I am self published, but I am currently looking for a literary agent or a publisher to represent me... so if you know of one, you know... put in a good word for me, okay?</span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Q: What was the hardest part of your self-pub / publishing journey?</span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #a64d79;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A:&nbsp; I honestly didn’t know how much work it was going to take!&nbsp; Writing the book was the easiest part, if you can believe that.&nbsp; By edit round 17 I was pretty sure I had it right, then I ran it through my editor and had two more edits after that.&nbsp; Plus all the self promoting, it’s a lot of work!</span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Q: What format are your books available in?</span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #a64d79;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A: Right now, Neophyte is only in e-book format, but as I said earlier, I am actively looking for representation.</span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Q: How many books have you published so far?</span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #a64d79;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A: Just the one, but soon I will have the sequel and a secret book out.</span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Q: What things did you outsource, if any at all?</span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #a64d79;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A: I have been blessed with a great group of friends. I had a friend edit for me, another one helped walk me through how to self publish (she also gave me pep talks when I didn’t think I could go on), then I had a friend who took the photos for the cover art, and another one used the photo and added the graphicy things to make it into the cover that it is.</span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Q: What’s the best bit of advice you received when starting out?</span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #a64d79;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A: Don’t give up!&nbsp; Even when you have 20 rejection letters, use that to motivate you to improve, not give up.</span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Q: What advice would you offer to the future Debut Authors out there?</span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #a64d79;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A: Before you release your book, hype it up a lot. Send advanced copies to bloggers, do blog hops, get the hype up for it.&nbsp; It will help later on when you are self promoting it.</span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Q: What’s next for you? Any projects in the pipeline for us to look forward to?</span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #a64d79;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A: Right now, I am currently working on Rogue, the next book in the Neophyte Series, and a secret book that started to form a few weeks ago. </span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Q: Any favourite Author that you are a fan of and would recommend?</span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #a64d79;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A: I will shamelessly promote my friend, Penelope King. She has been an inspiration and sometimes my pure motivation for getting Neophyte done and published. She has two series out right now, Demonblood (it’s amazing... you have to read it) and Spellbound (a great witchy series!)&nbsp; Check her out! You won’t be disappointed!</span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Q: Give us one of your favourite quotes……………….</span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><br /><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A: My favourite quote from Neophyte is: “You’re right. That was definitely the harder way to go about explaining that I am dead.” I breathed sarcastically. “At least you have now confirmed I am not in hell.” (this is Addisyn’s reaction to when she sees her whole Link shirtless for the first time, right before they bloomed in front of her.)</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">My favourite quote not in Neophyte: “For beautiful eyes, look for the good in others; for beautiful lips, speak only words of kindness; and for poise, walk with the knowledge that you are never alone.” - Audrey Hepburn</span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Q: And finally tell us something random about yourself to make us chuckle………………………….</span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><div style="font-family: Verdana;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #a64d79;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A: Are you sure? Oh boy... let’s see... When I was 18, I tried out for the dance team for my local pro-basketball team.&nbsp; My friend and I thought it would be a fun thing to do... long story short, she ended up messing up in a turn sequence, so I saw it and I started to laugh, and then it was just an onset for a bad case of the giggles.&nbsp; I laughed my whole way through both times through the audition, like, rolling on the floor laughing, while the others danced around me, trying hard not to laugh.&nbsp; So clearly, since then, I have found another career path. HAHA.</span></span></span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #a64d79;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></span></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">Emmalee it's been a pleasure having you here on my blog. Good luck with Neophyte and all your future work.</span></span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">I will be reviewing Neophyte on this blog soon so please keep checking back!!</span></span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></span><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><b>You can find Neophyte by clicking on the following links</b></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B007BV298W" target="_blank">Amazon UK</a>&nbsp;<a href="http://amzn.com/B007BV298W" target="_blank">Amazon US</a>&nbsp;<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13495811-neophyte" target="_blank">Goodreads</a>&nbsp;<a href="http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/136333" target="_blank">Smashwords</a></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></span></div><span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></span></div>Ann Haineshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00928746689442268475noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7681646635650076390.post-40898409259197562412012-05-14T08:56:00.001+01:002012-05-14T09:43:03.956+01:00John Hennessy Interview<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WZdDeaIy2Dw/T6hht9VqstI/AAAAAAAAAGo/M3bNDPz0KbE/s1600/j.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" mea="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WZdDeaIy2Dw/T6hht9VqstI/AAAAAAAAAGo/M3bNDPz0KbE/s1600/j.jpg" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Our Interview today is with the Author John Hennessy. Born in 1988, John became entranced by the world of fantasy at a young age, playing video games and reading books for many long nights/early mornings. He recently graduated from Western Washington University, and now lives in the green land of Bellingham, at work on the second book in The Cry of Havoc series. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><a href="http://www.johnhennessy.net/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">http://www.johnhennessy.net/</span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">&nbsp;</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span></span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Welcome John Hennessy thanks for talking to us today and letting us have a little insight into you and your books.</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Thanks for having me on your blog!</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Q: Tell us about your latest book At the End?</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RwP-AuJWUfU/T6hhsO2kUPI/AAAAAAAAAGg/ZtoI5dxOc6k/s1600/at.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="200" mea="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RwP-AuJWUfU/T6hhsO2kUPI/AAAAAAAAAGg/ZtoI5dxOc6k/s200/at.jpg" width="129" /></span></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A: At the End is a post-apocalyptic sci-fi about a group of teenage gamers who are struggling to survive in the near future. The birth control industry has been shut down and population growth has boomed yet again, bordering 39 billion in 2048. The book starts in Bellingham, WA on the third day after nearly the entire population has been taken. Strange marks have popped up on everyone’s door, and billions have disappeared for the last three nights, but no one knows why or how they were taken. The story follows Maggy, Darrel, and Félix, a close group of friends, who were in on a joke that aluminium foil protects you from aliens, but it turns out it may not be so funny, and may have actually saved their lives.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Q: What’s your genre and why did you choose it?</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A: The genre for At the End is hard, because it’s not one specifically. I call it a YA post-apocalyptic sci-fi thriller. The main category is probably just sci-fi though. Normally I write fantasy, but once I thought of the idea for At the End, I just had to write it, and I’m glad I did.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Q: What’s the biggest obstacle you faced with your writing journey?</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A: I can’t say that I had any while writing At the End. It all just came together, without any hiccups. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Q: Where do you get your ideas and inspiration from?</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A: I get inspiration from everything and anything. For At the End, I initially got the inspiration by a swindler knocking on my door, telling me this long story of how her father was in the hospital and she needed money for gas to get down to Seattle. You could just tell she wasn’t for real, and come to find out in the paper about a week later, she was going around all of Bellingham trying to scam people. Well, that incident lead to the though: what if she went around knocking on peoples’ doors to see what was inside, then marked the houses, so that later her and her friends would rob the places with the most valuable items. Crazy start, I know, but one thing just evolved into another.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Q: Who or what are your influences?</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A: I have quite a few, a lot of which have been my professors and their courses at Western before I graduated. I learned a lot while studying there. David Attenborough and his wildlife documentaries have been quite influential on my writing (in The Cry of Havoc series). As far as writers go, Garth Nix was my favourite growing up. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Q: Are you self-published, legacy or a combination?</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A: Self-published.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Q: What was the hardest part of your self-pub / publishing journey?</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A: Editing. Finally, I had to break down and hire an editor, which is no small thing at 23 and just out of college.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Q: What format are your books available in?</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A: My books are available in all eBook formats and paperback format.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Q: How many books have you published so far?</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A: Two novels, one of which I had spent six years writing, starting The Cry of Havoc: Life Descending in high school, finishing it in college.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Q: What things did you outsource, if any at all?</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A: Editing.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Q: What’s the best bit of advice you received when starting out?</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A: Can’t say I received any. I wish someone had told me to save my money and not to pay for any reviews and just send out free copies to more reviewers.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Q: What advice would you offer to the future Debut Authors out there?</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A: Use a text-to-speech program when you edit. They allow you to find a lot more errors, listening to someone else’s voice reading your material.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Q: What’s next for you? Any projects in the pipeline for us to look forward to?</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A: I am currently working on book two in The Cry of Havoc series. Part one, Life Descending, was recently made a finalist in ForeWord Magazine’s Book of the Year awards in the fantasy category, and has been called “as good as Game of Thrones.”</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Q: Any favourite Author that you are a fan of and would recommend?</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A: It’s hard not to recommend George RR Martin. But I also recommend Michael Crichton, Cormac McCarthy, and Cervantes (Don Quixote).</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Q: Give us one of your favourite quotes……………….</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="color: #a64d79;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">A: </span><span lang="EN-US" style="background: white; color: #333333; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: &quot;lucida grande&quot;; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">"If then true lovers have been ever crossed,</span></span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #333333; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: &quot;lucida grande&quot;; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;"><br /><span style="color: #a64d79;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="background: white;">It stands as an edict in destiny.</span><br /><span style="background: white;">Then let us teach our trial patience,</span><br /><span style="background: white;">Because it is a customary cross,</span><br /><span style="background: white;">As due to love as thoughts, and dreams, and sighs,</span><br /><span style="background: white;">Wishes, and tears, poor fancy's followers." -Shakespeare.</span></span></span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Q: And finally tell us something random about yourself to make us chuckle………………………….</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A: I used to be a comedian, but by the age of eleven I lost all my talent . . .</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Thanks for joining us John and best of luck with your work. At The End is one of the books&nbsp;that I'll be reviewing for this blog soon so stay tuned.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">You can find&nbsp;'At The End'&nbsp;with these links.</span><br /><a href="http://www.amazon.com/At-End-post-apocalyptic-novel-ebook/dp/B007TKWGHO/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1336981370&amp;sr=8-2" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Amazon.com</span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">&nbsp;</span><a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/At-End-post-apocalyptic-novel-ebook/dp/B007TKWGHO/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1336981458&amp;sr=8-1" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Amazon.co.uk</span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">&nbsp;</span><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13614771-at-the-end-a-post-apocalyptic-novel" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Goodreads</span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">&nbsp;</span><a href="http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/151224" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Smashwords</span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">&nbsp;</span></div>Ann Haineshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00928746689442268475noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7681646635650076390.post-13225365884130449442012-05-10T19:53:00.002+01:002012-05-10T19:53:46.990+01:00Diana Nixon Interview<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lEAyh9vJX50/T6g8y_8h_DI/AAAAAAAAAFk/eZ8T_llhl-o/s1600/diana.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" mea="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lEAyh9vJX50/T6g8y_8h_DI/AAAAAAAAAFk/eZ8T_llhl-o/s1600/diana.jpg" /></span></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Diana Nixon was born in Minsk, Belarus, where she still lives and works on her book series Love Lines.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Before becoming a writer she received a Master of Law degree from Belorussian state University. Since then she has got married and given birth to her precious daughter. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">She says “I’ve always liked reading fantasy novels, so when I came up with the idea of writing a book, I already knew what genre to choose.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>At the moment I’m working on my Love lines series"</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Welcome Diana Nixon thanks for talking to us today and letting us have a little insight into you and your books.</span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Q: Tell us about your Love lines series.</span></span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Larmdd7Usac/T6g8z3NvyrI/AAAAAAAAAFo/N26KTZNJsXE/s1600/love.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="200" mea="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Larmdd7Usac/T6g8z3NvyrI/AAAAAAAAAFo/N26KTZNJsXE/s200/love.jpg" width="133" /></span></a></div><div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt 36pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">-<span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<span style="color: #a64d79;"> </span></span></span></span><span style="color: #a64d79;">First of all I should say that this is my debut as a writer. A few months ago I came up with the idea of writing a book and decided that it would be a fantasy novel. Love lines - is a story about young girl Eileen Clark, whose life turns upside down when she finds out about her unusual talents. I tried to make an interesting plot with good heroes, mysteries and beautiful love, of course.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Love lines series include five novels and one short story. The first book released on May 29 and the date of release for the second book is not set yet, however I can already say that it will be named Songs of the wind. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Q: What’s your genre and why did you choose it?</span></span></b></div><div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt 36pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">-<span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<span style="color: #a64d79;"> </span></span></span><span style="color: #a64d79;">I write fantasy novels for young adults. I like dreaming and think that this genre is the best way to make some of my dreams come true. I do believe in supernatural, though I’ve never met wizards or mind readers myself. In my own books I try to gather everything I would like to see in a book of such a genre.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Q: What’s the biggest obstacle you faced with your writing journey?</span></span></b></div><div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt 36pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">-<span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span><span style="color: #a64d79;">The only thing I was definitely sure about while starting my first book was its title, that’s why all the details such as a place of the events, names of my heroes and some landscape researches of Britain itself took a lot of hours to be ready. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Q: Where do you get your ideas and inspiration from?</span></span></b></div><div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt 36pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">-<span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span><span style="color: #a64d79;">From everywhere! From my family, my friends and some every day events around me, but as I have already answered on my website - the main thing it to get as much positive emotions as possible.</span><strong> </strong></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Q: Who or what are your influences?</span></span></b></div><div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt 36pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">-<span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<span style="color: #a64d79;"> </span></span></span></span><span style="color: #a64d79;">I think it’s some inner state of my soul and my heart’s calling that influence me most. As inspiration is something kept inside o</span><span style="color: #a64d79;">f you, then everything what is around you may affect its appearance of absence. That’s why it’s so important to write when you are inspired by something, because when you make yourself write, the book can’t be interesting.</span><strong> </strong></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Q: Are you self-published, legacy or a combination?</span></span></b></div><div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt 36pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">-<span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span><span style="color: #a64d79;">I’m a self-published author. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Q: What was the hardest part of your self-pub journey?</span></span></b></div><div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt 36pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">-<span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<span style="color: #a64d79;"> </span></span></span><span style="color: #a64d79;">Finding a publisher of course! I still don’t know what I would have done without my friends who advised to choose Createspace services. I think that it’s pointless to pay someone to publish your book when there are so many opportunities to do it yourself. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Q: What format are your books available in?</span></span></b></div><div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt 36pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">-<span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span><span style="color: #a64d79;">My first book is available in paperback, but I’m working on making it digital as well. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Q: How many books have you published so far?</span></span></b></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt 36pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">-<span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span><span style="color: #a64d79;">There is only one book published as it was actually my first book. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Q: What things did you outsource, if any at all?</span></span></b></div><div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt 36pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">-<span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<span style="color: #a64d79;">&nbsp; </span></span></span><span style="color: #a64d79;">There were some guide-books about Britain, some works about people’s energy and the books about some specific plants. So research mainly.&nbsp;</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Q: What’s the best bit of advice you received when starting out?</span></span></b></div><div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt 36pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">-<span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<span style="color: #a64d79;">&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span><span style="color: #a64d79;">Write if you want to! </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Q: What advice would you offer to the future Debut Authors out there?</span></span></b></div><div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt 36pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">-<span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<span style="color: #a64d79;">&nbsp; </span></span></span><span style="color: #a64d79;">Don’t take every negative review personally, because it doesn’t necessary mean that your book is bad, maybe just that reader wanted to find something else there, but the next one will definitely like it. And never give up! If something you are doing makes you smile and brings happiness then it’s something you should really do. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Q: What’s next for you? Any projects in the pipeline for us to look forward to?</span></span></b></div><div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt 36pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">-<span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<span style="color: #a64d79;"> </span></span></span><span style="color: #a64d79;">As soon as I finish my Love lines series I’m going to start a trilogy about guardian angels.</span><strong> </strong></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Q: Any favourite Author that you are a fan of and would recommend?</span></span></b></div><div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt 36pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">-<span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<span style="color: #a64d79;"> </span></span></span><span style="color: #a64d79;">There are many good authors so I would recommend just one of my latest readings. It’s Claudia Gray. I thing her books are amazing.</span><strong> </strong></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Q: Give us one of your favourite quotes.</span></span></b></div><div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt 36pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">-<span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span><span style="color: #a64d79;">The brightest stars are shining in a place of your childhood. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Q: And finally tell us something random about yourself to make us chuckle.</span></span></b></div><div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt 36pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">-<span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<span style="color: #a64d79;">&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span><span style="color: #a64d79;">I’ve never thought that being an International lawyer I would become an International writer as well!</span></span></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Thanks Diana, it was lovely you have you here. Best of luck to you with your work, I cant wait to read and review.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana;">"Love Lines" will have a review on here soon and its release date will be 29th May so look out for it. </span></div>Ann Haineshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00928746689442268475noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7681646635650076390.post-68903521834329539082012-05-09T10:23:00.001+01:002012-05-09T10:23:45.632+01:00M.J. Webb Interview<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Welcome M.J.Webb thanks for talking to us today and letting us have a little insight into you and your books.</span></b><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cMP_wgXPjJk/T4sYbjbVdMI/AAAAAAAAADs/UiB3lk--9Mo/s1600/jake-west-warriors-of-the-heynai.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="200" mea="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cMP_wgXPjJk/T4sYbjbVdMI/AAAAAAAAADs/UiB3lk--9Mo/s200/jake-west-warriors-of-the-heynai.jpg" width="134" /></span></a></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Q: Tell us about Jake West – Warriors of the Heynai</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Hi and I’m very pleased to be here. Warriors is the sequel to my debut novel, ‘Jake West – The Keeper of the Stones’. The Jake West series was penned for my children and this is book two of three. I’m well into writing book three as we speak. It’s a fantasy epic adventure aimed specifically at teenage boys, though I have been delighted to find that it is being read and enjoyed by readers of all ages, from nine to seventy-three that I’m aware of. The main heroes are two ordinary fifteen year old boys who get thrust into an extraordinary world when they discover a strange box which unearths some even stranger family secrets. Chased across worlds, hunted by fearsome beasts and feted as the saviour of millions, the hero they have been waiting for, Jake West has to fulfil his destiny and live up to the greatest of expectations. Warriors sees the journey continue as Jake seeks the stones needed to restore the Heynai’s weapon and tackle an evil wizard and his legions of monsters. Book 1 was penned primarily for my son, this book was written more for my daughter. Because of this, there is a very strong female heroine who kicks ass, as well as an army of warriors risen from the dead, a dragon, spirits, wizards.... Everything you could want in a good story.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Q: What’s your genre and why did you choose it?</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I suppose if you were to pigeonhole it, you would have to say fantasy, though I believe it stands on its own as a young adult fiction story. I’m not one for labels as I think it deters some readers. It also puts off any literary agents and publishers who dismiss novels upon hearing the word, fantasy. I love the genre but I’d like to simply say that it is a good yarn. I chose fantasy because I was writing to inspire my children. The books have strong themes of loyalty, trust and bravery. I also wanted something that did not take too much research, as my full time employment meant I would have limited time. With fantasy, everything is generated in your own mind.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="color: #a64d79;"><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Q: What’s the biggest obstacle you faced with your writing journey?</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">That’s an easy one; time. Or more accurately, lack of time. I work full time and I have a young family, it’s very hard to juggle the three. I can go weeks without a day to write, any author will tell you that is an impossibly frustrating situation. I have usually forgotten where I was and have to re-read all I’ve done before I can begin. Also, I don’t have the luxury of waiting for it to happen. I have to force it out and hope I get in the zone so to speak. It’s not ideal and I’d love to be able to devote more time to my writing.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Q: Where do you get your ideas and inspiration from?</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">From my children. I write for them so I try to imagine what they would like to read. It has to be exciting but real, believable. There has to be edge of your seat moments and humour. I try not to fill the pages with too much ‘gumph’, or Information dumping. I think I failed in that regard a little with book one but it still reads well and one day I’ll re-edit it. It was my first novel after all. My ideas came from nowhere, I never considered myself to be creative until I began to write. My imagination was stimulated like never before and I could not stop. There are very few characters based on real life, though some have certain characteristics and names of people I know.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="color: #a64d79;"><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Q: Who or what are your influences?</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I had not read a fantasy book from start to finish before beginning my novel so I had no influences as such. I used to read military books and biographies in the main. Since writing I have branched out and read works by Tolkien, C S Lewis, Patrick Rothfus and Gail Martin amongst others. I’m still learning about the genre though so my journey has only just begun. One thing is for certain; I can never be accused of plagiarism. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Q: Are you self-published, legacy or a combination?</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I am self published. The first book was through Authorhouse and the second Lulu. I did submit the first to several agents/publishers but was not successful. I wanted a book for my children so I decided to self publish. I do not regret that decision and I think the stigma attached to self publishing is dwindling all the time. I’ve read many self published works which are, in my opinion, as good as or better than their published counterparts. In most cases the only difference is the editing.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><br /><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Q: What was the hardest part of your self-pub / publishing journey?</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Authorhouse were too far removed to be of any help, being based in America. They only seemed interested in me if I was paying more money. I was a number on a list and I think they missed the boat. If they had listened to me, fought my corner, we could have enjoyed far more success and made more money in the process. Lulu was easier and cheaper, the only difficulty came from the fact that I had to do everything myself, with no help. Once the artist was on board (A J Hateley), it was a much more satisfying experience.<strong> </strong></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="color: #a64d79;"><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Q: What format are your books available in?</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">They are available in all formats; On Amazon as Kindle and paperback, on lulu as hardback and on several sites besides. WH Smith and Waterstones have it on their database and I know of at least one store that has it on their shelves. All the customer has to do is ask if it is not, though it is probably cheaper to order online. As I joined KDP Select on Amazon, I had to pull the ebook version from other sites.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Q: How many books have you published so far?</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Warriors is my second, I’m hoping to have book three out by the end of the year. It is untitled at present but it will finish the series, although there is scope for so much more. That will depend upon demand and my own situation/circumstances. I’d love to continue writing but it is a lot of hard work and it detracts sometimes from my other commitments. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Q: What things did you outsource, if any at all?</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Only the artwork. I found a brilliant young art student called A J Hateley who I convinced to work with me. She produced some exceptional artwork for both books and I’m glad to say she has received acknowledgement and credit for her work. She’s become a very good friend and I turn to her for advice on a whole range of issues. In fact, she proofreads my work when possible and I am quite often astounded by her insight. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Q: What’s the best bit of advice you received when starting out?</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="color: #a64d79;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">To be totally honest, most people advised me not to do it, to start small with short stories etc. I’m so glad that I ignored them. </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>I think people like Gail Martin, Charity Parkerson, Lynn Hallbrooks, Mike Maynard (fellow authors I met on sites such as Goodreads, Facebook etc) were a massive help with their encouragement and knowledge once I had begun. Mike for example helped me with establishing a website presence. No man is an island, we all need help from time to time, the authors above proved to be the nicest people who were willing to share their experiences and help. I can’t thank them enough.</span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Q: What advice would you offer to the future Debut Authors out there?</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Seek as much help and advice as you can get but stick to your guns if it matters to you. There are plenty of reasons not to do something, you only need to find one to do it. Don’t publish too early, wait until your work is the best it can be. Don’t give up or give in, there will be highs and lows along your journey so expect them and ride the waves. You can never please everyone so you will have your fair share of critics/bad reviews, listen to what they are saying if constructive and valid, but disregard them if not, remembering that the reader has taken the time to look at your work and earned the right to have an opinion. Most of all enjoy the moment. If your writing does not fill you with excitement, how do you expect it to thrill your readers?</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Q: What’s next for you? Any projects in the pipeline for us to look forward to?</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Book 3 is almost twenty chapters in and I’m thrilled by it. There’s a lot of editing and writing ahead but I believe it will finish the series in style, with some unexpected twists and turns. After that, a well earned break during which I intend to explore the works of other authors. Unless of course the writing bug bites...?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>I have toyed with the idea of another genre, set in a time I know well, but we shall have to see.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Q: Any favourite Author that you are a fan of and would recommend?</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="color: #a64d79;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">I’ve met tons of great authors through Goodreads. Many of them write in genres I do not read such as Charity Parkerson, whose books are excellent I am told. I’ve also showcased some on my site like Michael Rivers, Mark Rice and Glenn Starkey. I think readers should explore the works of unknown authors, to discover a hitherto buried gem must be an amazing feeling. As far as established authors go, I like Patrick Rothfus’ style, C S Lewis is a must for all children, and Tolkien is still the undisputed master of all things fantasy. I would say read everything you can, cast your net far and wide and enjoy delving into murky, unchartered waters. You may catch a shark, or a tiddler like me. :-)</span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Q: Give us one of your favourite quotes……………….</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">‘As flies to wanton boys are we to th’ Gods, they kill us for their sport.’ William Shakespeare</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Q: And finally tell us something random about yourself to make us chuckle………………………….</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="background: white; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I was once regressed and under hypnosis recounted a tale of my former life as a Roman soldier, including a battle against Spartacus. </span></span><br /><br /><br /><span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana;">Thanks so much for Joining us today M.J. its been great chatting to you. </span><br /><span style="color: black;"><br /></span><br /><span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Verdana;"><span style="color: black;">Webb also has a feature on the blog. To read it</span>&nbsp;<a href="http://annhaines.blogspot.co.uk/2012/05/m-j-webb-is-my-featured-author-this.html" target="_blank">click here</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;</span><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HL0TLhpCXCU/T4sYYr83UiI/AAAAAAAAADk/gS1GByhBZYA/s1600/jake-west-the-keeper-of-the-stines-cover.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" mea="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HL0TLhpCXCU/T4sYYr83UiI/AAAAAAAAADk/gS1GByhBZYA/s1600/jake-west-the-keeper-of-the-stines-cover.png" /></span></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Also check out the first book in the Jake West series The Keeper Of The Stones.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>Ann Haineshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00928746689442268475noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7681646635650076390.post-74024380578356556892012-05-08T16:24:00.001+01:002012-05-08T16:24:14.880+01:00Is it folly?<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Like so many other new authors out there I have moments when I feel like giving up. During my writing process I am so immersed in the story that my doubts don't linger in my mind. It's the aftermath that the story leaves in its wake that I find hardest to deal with. </span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I love my stories, but while half of me knows that others will like my&nbsp;them too&nbsp;the other half is simply hoping that the former is right!! After a while I will question whether or not it's worth carrying on, whether it's something I'm cut out for. Because the stories aren't enough. They can be the greatest story ever in your mind but if you can't write them down and tell the story in a manner fitting for the reader, then what is the point? It is one of the hardest lessons I am learning as a brand new author. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Critic is good and when it is an honest critic it can be the most helpful thing to a writer, yet it still remains the hardest thing to hear and it will leave&nbsp;me questioning whether or not I am up to the challenge. Now working alongside a great editor, I am hoping for my writing to progress further. I also keep in my mind that you can't please all the people all the time. There are, after all, people out there that don't like the Harry Potter books or the Twilight books and I wonder how that's possible?? But it is. Even though all this is true I dare not compare myself to either of those writers or any other writer, I like to think of myself as a singular otherwise I might go crazy. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">There is so many difficult things to overcome as a new author, but there is a lot of advice too. I have found that through networking on sites like Twitter and Goodreads, I've managed to meet so many other new and great writers that are going through the same thing. Also others that have been there before&nbsp;and have now come out of it on the other side with their sanity intact and, more importantly, they are still writing. Thanks to reading&nbsp;so much of&nbsp;the advice out there I have plenty of pools stored in my brain to dip in to whenever I get the 'self-doubties' and trust me I get them often!!! So I am still pushing forward and progressing with my writing but also my attitude towards it, I'm hoping that I will be able to turn the negatives in to positives more frequently and hopefully a bit quicker than I do at the moment!! Who knows, in the future the negatives may get less and less too and that can't be a bad thing.....can it?</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Ann</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">xx</span><br />Ann Haineshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00928746689442268475noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7681646635650076390.post-58609479121743696272012-05-08T13:32:00.002+01:002012-05-08T13:45:02.160+01:00Alicia Rivoli Interview<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zdJBtOoRw5M/T6gvMzw2qrI/AAAAAAAAAFQ/_v3r9TiMhdo/s1600/family2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" mea="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zdJBtOoRw5M/T6gvMzw2qrI/AAAAAAAAAFQ/_v3r9TiMhdo/s200/family2.jpg" width="144" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Calibri&quot;, &quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Our interview today is with Alicia Rivoli, Author of Mere Enchantment. Alicia Rivoli is a stay at home mom, currently living in beautiful Northwest Arkansas where the weather is ever-changing!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>She loves to sing, write, read, spend time with her family, and travel. She also loves chocolate, and gooey caramel, together they make the perfect candy. </span></span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Calibri&quot;, &quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Visit her author blog </span></span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Calibri&quot;, &quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><a href="http://www.aliciarivoli.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">HERE</span></a></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Welcome Alicia thanks for talking to us today and letting us have a little insight into you and your books.</span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Q: Tell us about Mere Enchantment (The Enchantment Series, book 1 )………………</span></span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QW1zdadhfKw/T6gv0fQMDnI/AAAAAAAAAFY/S-QWU3fWgdI/s1600/Mere.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="200" mea="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QW1zdadhfKw/T6gv0fQMDnI/AAAAAAAAAFY/S-QWU3fWgdI/s200/Mere.jpg" width="133" /></span></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #a64d79;">My new book is actually a magical tale of five friends who have to fight for their freedom in a kingdom that they never really knew existed. They find that they are being tracked down by a man that betrayed the crown and knows that their presence in Mere threatens his plans to overthrow the entire kingdom.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>They have many challenges that they must overcome, but the biggest one is discovering who they really are, and who and what they think their friends are.</span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Q: What’s your genre and why did you choose it?</span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #a64d79;">I choose to write for the juvenile/young adult genre, because that is what I find interesting.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Nearly every book on my shelf is from these two genres.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>My mind is constantly dreaming up different stories that appeal to a younger audience.</span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Q: What’s the biggest obstacle you faced with your writing journey?</span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #a64d79;">The biggest challenge I have faced is trying to find a publisher.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>With so many books being written, breaking into the industry is very difficult.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>I received my share of rejection letters, and finally decided to self publish. </span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Q: Where do you get your ideas and inspiration from?</span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #a64d79;">My imagination is always running wild, so when the story of Mere came to me while lying in bed one night; I decided I needed to write it down.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Also every time I read a new book, more and more story plots come to mind, so I have to keep reading, to keep my mind open to more ideas.</span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Q: Who or what are your influences?</span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #a64d79;">My husband and sister have been my two biggest influences in my writing process.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>My sister helped me keep going when I found myself stuck, and my husband gave me the final push to become a self-published author.</span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Q: What was the hardest part of your self-pub journey?</span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #a64d79;">Marketing!! It’s so hard to get your book noticed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>There are so many good books out there, and to get people realize that they want to read your book out of the thousands to choose from is not an easy task.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>It’s tough to know where to go to get the best audience for your work.</span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Q: What format are your books available in?</span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #a64d79;">Mere Enchantment is currently available in paperback, Kindle, and Nook editions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Other versions will be available soon as well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>It can be purchased online from Amazon or Barnes and Noble.</span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Q: How many books have you published so far?</span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #a64d79;">This is my first published work.</span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Q: What things did you outsource, if any at all?</span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #a64d79;">We found an amazing artist to do the cover art, and we also hired an editor.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>I highly recommend an editor before publishing. They help a lot!</span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Q: What’s the best bit of advice you received when starting out?</span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #a64d79;">The best advice I received is to never give up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>It might take a long time, but eventually the story will be heard.</span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Q: What advice would you offer to the future Debut Authors out there?</span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #a64d79;">Keep writing!!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Things are never easy, but as long as you keep trying, you can never fail.</span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Q: What’s next for you? Any projects in the pipeline for us to look forward to?</span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #a64d79;">I am currently working on the 2<sup>nd</sup> instalment in The Enchantment Series.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>I hope to have it available to readers by the fall of 2012.</span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Q: Any favourite Author that you are a fan of and would recommend?</span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #a64d79;">That’s a tough one, I have many authors that I recommend, some of my favorites are Nicholas Sparks, Brandon Mull, Stephenie Meyer, Rick Riordan, Richard Paul Evans,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>JK Rowling, and Donita K. Paul. There are a lot more, but that’s a good start.</span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Q: Give us one of your favourite quotes……………….</span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #a64d79;">“I never said it would be easy, only that it would be worth it!” (Jesus Christ)</span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Q: And finally tell us something random about yourself to make us chuckle……………………</span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/" name="_GoBack"></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">…….</span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #a64d79;">I have an extreme fear of spiders!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>It doesn’t matter how big or small, they creep me out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Even if I see them on television, they give me the chills.</span></span></span></div><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Thanks for taking time out for us Alicia, it was lovely chatting with you. Good luck with everything.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Find Alicia's debut novel Mere Enchantment with these links.............</span><br /><br /><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13581560-mere-enchantment" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Goodreads</span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">&nbsp;</span><a href="http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/149400" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Smashwords</span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">&nbsp;</span><a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Mere-Enchantment-Alicia-Rivoli/dp/1475145535" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Amazon UK</span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">&nbsp;</span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Mere-Enchantment-The-Series-ebook/dp/B007RTO0EO" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Amazon US</span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">&nbsp;</span><br /><br />Ann Haineshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00928746689442268475noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7681646635650076390.post-42958885525681503592012-05-03T16:23:00.000+01:002012-05-03T16:25:31.109+01:002012 Reading Challenge<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The Story Siren is running a great challenge, the Debut Author Challenge. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The challenge is to read 12 books before the end of December, that's 1 book per month or however quickly you would like to read. They have to be DEBUTS though, you can get the rules and the list via The Story Siren's blog. Or follow the link button on my blog entitled Debut Author Challenge&nbsp;ARC Tours. There are giveaways and a travelling book tour for you to borrow the books through. My debut Brunswick is part of this tour and I would love for you guys to sign up and get a read of it. Follow this link <a href="http://dacarctours.blogspot.co.uk/" target="_blank">http://dacarctours.blogspot.co.uk/</a></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Go to The Story Sirens blog, you can get there through the live button on here, and check it out. Get involved, not only will you be supporting many debut authors but you may read and fall in love with a book you never thought you would. </span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Give it a go, enjoy!!!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Happy Reading </span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Ann</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana;">xx&nbsp;</span>Ann Haineshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00928746689442268475noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7681646635650076390.post-91969868056310357452012-05-02T13:50:00.004+01:002012-05-08T13:57:59.525+01:00<span style="background-color: #cccccc; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Today's blog interview is with David Estes, a great writer who's debut novel &nbsp;has been very well&nbsp;received. Here he takes us through a few tit bits about him and his work.</b></span><br /><span style="background-color: #cccccc;"><br /></span><br /><span style="background-color: #cccccc;"><br /></span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0pt;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-LF_XRNG90vM/T6EpMPJ6nfI/AAAAAAAAAFE/-WkW6EUbQKM/s1600/David.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="background-color: #cccccc;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-LF_XRNG90vM/T6EpMPJ6nfI/AAAAAAAAAFE/-WkW6EUbQKM/s200/David.jpg" width="128" /></span></a></div><b><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="background-color: #cccccc; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Welcome, David Estes, thanks for talking to us today and letting us have a little insight into you and your books.</span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: #cccccc;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0pt;"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="background-color: #cccccc; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Q: Tell us about Angel Evolution and the Evolution Trilogy</span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="background-color: #cccccc; color: #a64d79; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">First of all, I just want to thank you, Ann, for inviting me to talk about my books on your awesome site, I truly feel honoured.&nbsp; I am so amazed at how positive the reception has been for my first trilogy!&nbsp; I can only hope it is only the beginning of my writing career!</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="color: #a64d79;"><br /><span style="background-color: #cccccc;"></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-origin: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: #cccccc;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Now, to Angel Evolution and the Evolution Trilogy, where do I start?&nbsp; </span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Without giving too much away, The Evolution Trilogy is my own spin on the classic angel vs. demon story.&nbsp; To be honest, when I first got the idea for Angel Evolution, I thought I would be leading the angel book trend.&nbsp; By the time I finally published the Evolution Trilogy, there were dozens of angel books out and I was pretty worried that mine would get lost in the shuffle.&nbsp; What I’ve found is that readers have noticed how different my plot is than most others in the genre.&nbsp; I strip out any religious aspect from the story (no fallen angels, no heaven and hell, etc.), and instead create my angels and demons from humans themselves via an evolutionary fluke of sorts.&nbsp; </span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-origin: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="color: #a64d79;"><br /><span style="background-color: #cccccc;"></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-origin: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: #cccccc; color: #a64d79;">I’ve tried to keep the reader guessing as to who is really good and who is evil (angel, demons, archangels, gargoyles, etc).&nbsp; I also took the approach of allowing the reader to see many different points of view so they could appreciate the drama taking place amongst the different parties.&nbsp; Other than that, I hope to just entertain my readers with a classic adventure filled with action, suspense, some romance, and a bit of humour.</span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: #cccccc;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0pt;"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="background-color: #cccccc; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Q: What’s your genre and why did you choose it?</span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-origin: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: #cccccc; color: #a64d79;">I write for both the Young Adult and Children’s markets, and the Evolution Trilogy is targeted at lovers of YA Paranormal books.&nbsp; Although I am in the gender minority for authors in the genre, I feel right at home in the space.&nbsp; I am a bit of a romantic, and I prefer writing about younger characters, so it’s a perfect fit for me!&nbsp; Plus, I’ve never really grown up myself, always enjoying reading books across all genres and age groups, so it was just natural that I should write in such a versatile genre.&nbsp; I love paranormal because there are so many opportunities to be creative and to do something that no one has done before.</span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: #cccccc;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0pt;"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="background-color: #cccccc; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Q: What’s the biggest obstacle you faced with your writing journey?</span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: #cccccc;">Ooh painful memories!&nbsp; <span style="font-size: 12pt;">Initially, my biggest challenge was to get an agent and/or a publisher.&nbsp; When I finished Angel Evolution, I researched those agents and publishers that would be most likely to take it on.&nbsp; I sent off dozens of one page query letters and began receiving rejections on an almost daily basis.&nbsp; It was tough, but it gave me plenty of time to continue writing the rest of the trilogy, as well as work on some other projects.&nbsp; </span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="background-color: #cccccc; color: #a64d79; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I kept querying, kept getting rejected, and then finished the trilogy.&nbsp; I decided I wanted to self-publish after hearing about how much easier it was to do these days and how some authors were having considerable success with it (eg Amanda Hocking, Lizzy Ford, Karen McQuestion).&nbsp; So I hired a cover artist, edited my books to death, utilised beta readers to improve them (resulting in some awesome changes to characters and to the ending of the entire trilogy), and learned the ins and outs of formatting a book for e-book and print.&nbsp; Two long, busy months later I released the entire trilogy on Amazon in print and everywhere e-books are sold!&nbsp; </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: #cccccc; color: #a64d79;">It was amazing to see my work in print and available on various sites and it has been the coolest experience to read reader reviews, watch the number of fans on my Facebook page grow (I get excited every time the counter goes up by even 1 Like), get Twitter followers, write new posts on my blog (and actually get comments!).&nbsp; All in all, despite the challenges, the publishing process has been so rewarding.&nbsp; That being said, I am absolutely going to continue to seek a publisher for the other books I have written!</span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: #cccccc;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0pt;"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="background-color: #cccccc; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Q: Where do you get your ideas and inspiration from?</span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="background-color: #cccccc; color: #a64d79; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It’s interesting, inspiration comes at so many different times and in different places that you always have to be ready for it.&nbsp; To be honest, most of my best inspiration comes when I’m writing.&nbsp; I’ll be working on my newest book, in the thick of it, creating battle scenes or laughter or developing my characters, and <i>WHAM!</i> an idea for a completely different book will hit me.&nbsp; I always stop and pop the new idea into my iPhone.&nbsp; Over the course of writing the 9 books I have written so far, I’ve come up with at least three times that many new ideas.&nbsp; They’re all waiting to be written!</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: #cccccc;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0pt;"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="background-color: #cccccc; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Q: Who or what are your influences?</span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="background-color: #cccccc; color: #a64d79; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Oh, there are so many authors that I cannot possibly list them here.&nbsp; But at the very top of the list are authors like Dean Koontz and J.R.R Tolkien.&nbsp; Tolkien was my favourite author as a child, while Koontz became a favourite of mine later in life.&nbsp; Each of them has an uncanny ability to weave words into a book, like threads into a tapestry.&nbsp; I have also been inspired recently by Suzanne Collins and Amanda Hocking, who have both seemingly come out of nowhere to gain immense popularity.&nbsp; They are both great storytellers, which is what I hope to be.&nbsp; </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: #cccccc;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0pt;"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="background-color: #cccccc; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Q: Are you self-published, legacy or a combination?</span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: #cccccc; color: #a64d79;">The Evolution Trilogy is self-published, but I am seeking a literary agent for my unpublished works.&nbsp; It’s an exciting time to be an author, as despite how competitive the industry is, I still have the opportunity to get my babies (ie my books!) out there for people to experience and enjoy.&nbsp; I’ve met so many incredible people who started out as strangers and are now huge supporters and good friends.&nbsp; The true goodness of people always amazes me!</span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: #cccccc;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0pt;"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="background-color: #cccccc; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Q: What was the hardest part of your self-pub / publishing journey?</span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="background-color: #cccccc; color: #a64d79; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Besides dealing with all the rejection from agents and publishers as I mentioned earlier, I suppose it’s just putting all the pieces together on your own.&nbsp; Having beta readers review your book, editing, revising, revising some more, rewriting, hiring a cover artist, formatting for print and e-book, uploading, contacting book bloggers, setting up giveaways and author interviews and guest posts, Facebooking, Tweeting, message boarding:&nbsp; It’s a full time job!!&nbsp; And guess what?&nbsp; Like many other authors, I was holding down another full time job at the same time :)&nbsp; But it was all worth it when I started getting my first reviews and found people who really enjoyed my writing!</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="color: #a64d79;"><br /><span style="background-color: #cccccc;"></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: #cccccc; color: #a64d79;">I am so fortunate that things have gone well enough that I will be able to start writing full time starting in June of this year.&nbsp; Life is good!</span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: #cccccc;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: #cccccc;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0pt;"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="background-color: #cccccc; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Q: What format are your books available in?</span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: #cccccc; color: #a64d79;">Everywhere except bookstores ha!&nbsp; <span style="font-size: 12pt;">Print via Amazon.com.&nbsp; E-book on all major sites, including Amazon Kindle, iBooks, Barnes and Nobles NookBooks, and Smashwords.com.</span>&nbsp; They are cheapest as e-books so I recommend grabbing them that way!</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: #cccccc;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0pt;"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="background-color: #cccccc; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Q: How many books have you published so far?</span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: #cccccc;"><span style="color: #a64d79;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Just the Evolution Trilogy so far, so three, but I’ve got another six unpublished</span> books</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: #a64d79;"> that I expect to publish this year if I go the self-publishing route!</span>&nbsp; </span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: #cccccc;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0pt;"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="background-color: #cccccc; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Q: What things did you outsource, if any at all?</span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="background-color: #cccccc; color: #a64d79; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I wish I was a graphic designer, or an artist, or something creative like that.&nbsp; Unfortunately, the extent of my creativity is with words, so I hired both a cover artist, Claudia McKinney at phatpuppyart (she’s amazing by the way), and a book jacket designer (including custom font), who were my friends at Winkipop Designs.&nbsp; It was my wife’s concept that Claudia was able to bring to life on the book covers!&nbsp; </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="color: #a64d79;"><br /><span style="background-color: #cccccc;"></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: #cccccc; color: #a64d79;">I couldn’t afford a copyeditor for the Evolution Trilogy, so all the editing is my own hard work.&nbsp; I read each book six times, three of which were out loud, to try to pick up any typos and errors, but I would have loved the professional polish a copyeditor could bring.&nbsp; Since I’ve had some success recently, I’ve now hired a copyeditor, Christine LePorte (Lizzy Ford’s copyeditor), so I’m ecstatic to have her as part of my team!</span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: #cccccc;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0pt;"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="background-color: #cccccc; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Q: What’s the best bit of advice you received when starting out?</span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: #cccccc; color: #a64d79;">Great question.&nbsp; I think it probably came from my wife, which was to forget about trying to come up with the next big idea, the next Twilight, the next Hunger Games.&nbsp; Take the best idea you have right now and go with it.&nbsp; See where it takes you.&nbsp; If you’re partway through it and you don’t feel like it’s going anywhere, rethink it, perhaps switch to your next best idea.&nbsp; Eventually you’ll find the right one, but never give up.&nbsp; That’s kept me going for 18 months with no signs of stopping anytime soon!</span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: #cccccc;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0pt;"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="background-color: #cccccc; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Q: What advice would you offer to the future Debut Authors out there?</span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: #cccccc; font-size: 12pt;">I recently wrote a blog post at </span><a href="http://davidestesbooks.blogspot.com/"><span lang="EN-US" style="background-color: #cccccc; font-size: 12pt;">http://davidestesbooks.blogspot.com</span></a><span style="background-color: #cccccc; font-size: 12pt;"> about the road to publishing the Evolution Trilogy and I noted three pieces of advice that I think are the most important to those just getting started.&nbsp; Here’s what I said:</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="color: #a64d79;"><br /><span style="background-color: #cccccc;"></span></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: #cccccc;"><span lang="EN-US">·<span style="font-size: 7pt;">&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;</span></span><span lang="EN-US">Write every day.&nbsp; Even if it’s only a couple hundred words, it keeps you in your story and makes it easier to pick it up and continue writing.&nbsp; Plus, you’re less likely to forget something and change the storyline or details partway through.</span></span></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="color: #a64d79;"><br /><span style="background-color: #cccccc;"></span></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: #cccccc;"><span lang="EN-US">·<span style="font-size: 7pt;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span><span lang="EN-US">If you can’t afford a copyeditor (which I couldn’t at the time), get a few eagle-eyed people to review for silly errors.&nbsp; Read it yourself at least five times too!&nbsp; No one likes a book they paid for to have a bunch of typos.</span></span></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="color: #a64d79;"><br /><span style="background-color: #cccccc;"></span></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: #cccccc;"><span lang="EN-US">·<span style="font-size: 7pt;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span><span lang="EN-US">Use independent beta readers!&nbsp; This is something I didn’t do for Angel Evolution and now wish I did.&nbsp; I asked friends and family to read and provide feedback and I made some good changes from it, but it wasn’t enough.&nbsp; Make friends on sites like Goodreads and ask people to read your unpublished manuscript to provide feedback, particularly around character development, the beginning, the ending, what annoyed them, etc.&nbsp; I wish I would have done this so I could have avoided some of the negative reviews from my readers.</span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: #cccccc;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0pt;"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="background-color: #cccccc; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Q: What’s next for you? Any projects in the pipeline for us to look forward to?</span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-origin: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="background-color: #cccccc; color: #a64d79; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">My current project is a YA dystopian thriller written from the perspective of two characters in alternating chapters.&nbsp; Without giving two much away, the two characters (one male and one female) come from very different walks of life, but are thrust together unexpectedly.&nbsp; As their lives intertwine, they must seek to bring balance to a world that is out of control.&nbsp;&nbsp; I’ve finished the first book, which is currently with my copyeditor, and hope to release the entire trilogy in 2012.&nbsp; </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-origin: initial; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt;"><span style="color: #a64d79;"><br /><span style="background-color: #cccccc;"></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-origin: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="background-color: #cccccc; color: #a64d79; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I have recently finished a YA novel about a boy with a very unique disability and one hell of a sense of humour who meets loads of interesting teenagers on&nbsp;a suspenseful yet funny&nbsp;adventure to uncover the truth about the father he never knew.&nbsp; I am seeking an agent for this novel but am still open to self-publishing it if I am unsuccessful.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-origin: initial; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt;"><span style="color: #a64d79;"><br /><span style="background-color: #cccccc;"></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-origin: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="background-color: #cccccc; color: #a64d79; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I have also completed the first four books in a children's&nbsp;series aimed at kids between the ages of 7 and 10.&nbsp; It's a classic superhero&nbsp;story about a girl who meets a strange animal who leads her to a treasure chest in the middle of the forest.&nbsp; The chest contains a gift that allows the girl to perform miraculous feats.&nbsp; I have another two books planned for the series, which I will be working to complete in 2012.&nbsp; I am seeking an agent and publisher for the series.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-origin: initial; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt;"><span style="color: #a64d79;"><br /><span style="background-color: #cccccc;"></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-origin: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: #cccccc; color: #a64d79;">My remaining projects range from a variety of children's novels from the fantastical to the downright silly, to my next venture into YA fantasy, and to the creation of an adult suspense/mystery series with a strong and interesting male character.&nbsp; I have written the first page of more books than I can count without taking off my shoes!</span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: #cccccc;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0pt;"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="background-color: #cccccc; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Q: Any favourite Author that you are a fan of and would recommend?</span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: #cccccc; color: #a64d79;">I’m glad you asked this, and although I’ve mentioned a few of the authors who have inspired me over the years, I fell in love with Maggie Stiefvater’s writing in <i>The Scorpio Races</i>.&nbsp; If you haven’t read this book, I highly recommend it!&nbsp; I haven’t read her angel series yet, <i>Shiver</i>, but I’m making my way through her faerie books, <i>Lament and Ballad</i>, which I’m quite enjoying.&nbsp; But <i>The Scorpio Races</i> is my favourite.</span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: #cccccc;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0pt;"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="background-color: #cccccc; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Q: Give us one of your favourite quotes……………….</span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: #cccccc;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">“It’s a dangerous business, Frodo, going out your door.&nbsp; You step onto the road, and if you don’t keep your feet, there’s no knowing where you might be swept off to.”&nbsp; As I’m sure many of those who read this will know, this is from The Lord of the Rings by Tolkien.&nbsp; There are a million amazing and inspiring quotes out there, but this one has always been my favourite.&nbsp; It was the perfect line for Tolkien’s characters and their story, but the beauty of it is that it can be related to many other books, as well as to real life.&nbsp; Sometimes the first step is the hardest, because once you take it you are out of your comfort zone.&nbsp; But I can promise you that it’s always worth taking anyway :-)</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: #cccccc;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0pt;"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="background-color: #cccccc; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Q: And finally tell us something random about yourself to make us chuckle………………………….</span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-origin: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="background-color: #cccccc; color: #a64d79; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I love this question and there are so many ridiculous things I could tell you about myself.&nbsp; I could tell you about my insane OCD, how I get anxious when I don’t write at least 2,000 words a day, how I am obsessive about following and participating in certain threads on Goodreads, but I won’t.&nbsp; Or I could tell you about how much ping pong I played during college, to the point of obsession, where I was so sweaty after playing that it was like a full aerobic workout, diving and stretching to return the tiny white ball, but I won’t tell you about that either.&nbsp; Instead I’ll tell you about my reading obsession.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-origin: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="color: #a64d79;"><br /><span style="background-color: #cccccc;"></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-origin: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="background-color: #cccccc; color: #a64d79; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I read all the time, but that’s not the funny thing.&nbsp; The funny thing is that my wife calls me ‘Brick’, after the child character from the TV show <i>The Middle</i>.&nbsp; In the show, Brick is constantly reading no matter where he is.&nbsp; That’s me.&nbsp; We’ll be watching TV and then a commercial will come on and Adele will run back into the kitchen to get a drink, and when she comes back, I will have my book out, trying to sneak in a page before the show comes back on!&nbsp; I read anywhere and everywhere.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-origin: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="color: #a64d79;"><br /><span style="background-color: #cccccc;"></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-origin: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: #cccccc; color: #a64d79;">Before we finish, I just want to thank Ann again for the chance to be interviewed for her blog, it’s been awesome.&nbsp; I’d love to hear from my readers or anyone who just wants to chat about books or writing, so please contact me using your favourite method below, I promise to respond :)&nbsp; And if you Friend me on Goodreads, I promise to accept!!</span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-origin: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /><span style="background-color: #cccccc;"></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-origin: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /><span style="background-color: #cccccc;"></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-origin: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: #cccccc; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Thanks so much David for joining me on my blog, its been great having you. Congratulations on your success, very deserved. I can't wait for your next works.</b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-origin: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><br /><span style="background-color: #cccccc;"></span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-origin: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: #cccccc; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>You can find David and his books at the links below:-</b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-origin: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: #cccccc;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="background-color: #cccccc; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">My blog/website: http://www.davidestesbooks.blogspot.com &nbsp;&nbsp;</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /><span style="background-color: #cccccc;"></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: #cccccc;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">My Facebook page/s: </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt;"><a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/David-Estes/130852990343920">http://www.facebook.com/pages/David-Estes/130852990343920</a></span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /><span style="background-color: #cccccc;"></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: #cccccc;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">My Goodreads author page: </span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">http://www.goodreads.com/davidestesbooks &nbsp;</span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /><span style="background-color: #cccccc;"></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: #cccccc;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Twitter: </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt;"><a href="https://twitter.com/#!/davidestesbooks">https://twitter.com/#!/davidestesbooks</a></span></span><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;, serif; font-size: 12pt;"></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /><span style="background-color: #cccccc;"></span></span></div>Ann Haineshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00928746689442268475noreply@blogger.com0